Bipartisan Group of Over 60 Former Members of Congress, Governors, and Cabinet Officials Demand Congress Reclaim Its War Powers

Today, one day short of the 60-day mark in the current conflict in Iran, a bipartisan group of 63 former members of Congress, governors, and cabinet officials from Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus sent a letter demanding that Congress reclaim its constitutional authority over war powers. The former elected officials emphasize that “At this moment of heightened risk and uncertainty, Congress has both the obligation and the opportunity to reaffirm its role in matters of war and peace. Doing so will help restore the balance of powers that underpins our system of government.”

“Congress needs to reassert its authority on this war with Iran and reflect the views of the people they represent,” said Ambassador Tim Roemer (D-IN), co-chair of the ReFormers Caucus. “As we reach 60 days of conflict, the Pentagon price tag increases, and the American people experience rising prices at home, this is no longer an excursion or exercise. It is war and Congress needs to step up and demand adherence to the 1973 War Powers Resolution.”

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-PA), co-chair of the ReFormers Caucus, added: “It is absolutely essential that Congress assert its authority and prerogatives under the Constitution and 1973 War Powers Resolution to fully assess the use of our military personnel and resources in this war with Iran, the budgetary cost in relation to other domestic priorities, and how a successful conclusion will be facilitated. If the administration cannot make a convincing case for continued operations, Congress should exercise its authority to bring this action to a swift conclusion.”

Additional signers include Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), Former Member of Congress and Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Former Secretary of Defense and Member of Congress Leon Panetta (D-CA), Former Governor Marc Racicot (R-MT), Former Member of Congress Reid Ribble (R-WI), Former Member of Congress Fred Upton (R-MI), and Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Governor Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ).

Issue One sent this letter on behalf of the signees to the House and Senate Armed Services committees, urging them to take bipartisan action to restore the constitutional balance that protects our democracy, our national security, and our troops.

“Congress, the American people, and the service members placed in harm’s way have been left in the dark about the objectives, scope, and end state of U.S. military action,” the letter states. “Without clear answers, policymakers cannot exercise meaningful oversight or properly assess the risks involved. This lack of clarity not only undermines democratic accountability, but also increases the risk of miscalculation, escalation, and open-ended military engagement.”

The letter also highlights the need to reform the War Powers Resolution framework:

“As currently written, the law allows for ambiguous interpretations of what constitutes ‘hostilities’ and lacks clear enforcement mechanisms. Congress must close these loopholes and reform the Resolution to ensure that the first branch has a meaningful consultative and decisionmaking role in any significant military deployment.”

Background

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, if Congress has not declared war or authorized the use of military force within 60 days of hostilities, the president must terminate U.S. involvement and remove troops. The president may extend for no more than 30 days for the safe withdrawal of forces. These ReFormers Caucus members are calling for Congress to exert its authority today, April 30, as we reach the 60-day mark since the war with Iran began.

More than 60 ReFormers Caucus members previously signed a letter last fall calling on members of Congress to reaffirm the Article I powers granted to them in the Constitution and restore checks and balances as the Framers intended. Earlier this month, Issue One and other bipartisan organizations representing democracy, veteran, faith, and science organizations published a letter calling for Congress to reassert its war powers. ReFormers Caucus members and former Secretaries of Defense Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta also published an opinion piece in The New York Times about how this war could harm the United States and what actions Congress should take to rein in the President.