WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House voted Tuesday to condemn President Barack Obama for failing to give 30-day notice to Congress about the exchange in May of American prisoner Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban leaders held at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The vote was 249-163, with close to two dozen Democrats breaking ranks and backing the nonbinding resolution.

“By setting free five top Taliban commanders from U.S. custody, the Obama administration made Americans less safe,” Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement.

The vote castigating Obama came at a crucial moment for the administration as it sought to rally international and congressional support for steps to combat the rising threat of Islamic state militants in Iraq and Syria.

Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., suggested that the House vote on the measure less than two months before the election was simply an effort to appease core Republican voters.

Republicans insisted Obama clearly violated a law requiring the administration to notify Congress at least 30 days before transferring prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay prison.