A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.

S.J. Res. 116, a joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress, was introduced in the Senate on March 5, 2026. It was subsequently referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On March 24, 2026, a motion to discharge the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was rejected by a Yea-Nay Vote of 47-53. This action means the bill did not advance out of committee and is effectively stalled. The bill's text explicitly states that Congress has not declared war upon Iran or authorized military force, and it references ongoing military operations in Iran, termed "Operation Epic Fury," initiated by the Trump administration. This bill does not contain any explicit funding authorizations or appropriations. Its purpose was to assert Congressional authority over military engagements, specifically seeking to end unauthorized hostilities. Therefore, there is no direct money trail or funding mechanism associated with this legislative action. The rejection of the motion to discharge the committee signifies that the status quo regarding U.S. military involvement in Iran, as described in the bill's findings, remains unchanged by this specific legislative effort. For defense contractors, the rejection of S.J. Res. 116 means there is no legislative mandate to withdraw U.S. forces from current operations in Iran. Companies like Lockheed Martin Corporation ($LMT), RTX Corporation ($RTX), The Boeing Company ($BA), General Dynamics Corporation ($GD), and Northrop Grumman Corporation ($NOC) continue to operate within the existing defense spending and operational framework. The bill's failure to advance does not alter their current revenue streams or contract visibility related to ongoing military activities. For the energy sector, represented by companies such as Exxon Mobil Corporation ($XOM), Chevron Corporation ($CVX), Shell plc ($SHEL), and BP p.l.c. ($BP), the legislative outcome does not introduce new geopolitical instability that would directly influence oil prices or supply from this specific action. The bill's intent was to limit military action, and its failure to pass means the existing level of military engagement, and associated geopolitical risks, persist. Recent market data for defense contractors shows varied performance. Over the last 30 days, $LMT is down 5.55%, $RTX is down 6.37%, $BA is down 8.56%, $GD is down 3.55%, and $NOC is down 8.48%. However, over the last 7 days, all these defense tickers have seen positive changes, ranging from +1.43% for $NOC to +6.17% for $BA. This indicates a recent rebound following a more significant decline over the past month. For the energy sector, $XOM is up 8.43% over 30 days but down 3.36% over 7 days. $CVX is up 5.25% over 30 days but down 3.38% over 7 days. $SHEL is up 10.96% over 30 days and up 1.05% over 7 days. $BP is up 16.82% over 30 days and up 0.51% over 7 days. The 30-day performance for energy companies is generally positive, suggesting broader market factors are influencing these stocks more than the specific legislative action on S.J. Res. 116. Given the rejection of the motion to discharge, S.J. Res. 116 is unlikely to advance further in the current legislative session. The bill's legislative path has effectively ended with the committee's decision. Related bills, S.J. Res. 104 and S.J. Res. 114, also aimed at removing forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, have similarly been referred to committee, with S.J. Res. 104 also having a motion to discharge rejected. This indicates a consistent lack of legislative support for such measures at this time.