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By Nick Mordowanec
Staff Writer
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A dozen Democratic representatives in Congress, all military veterans, have sent a letter to the White House ordering that lawmakers will vote on any additional aggression against Iran so as not to repeat the "same mistakes" from wars that started two decades ago.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump's green light to what he later described as a "very successful attack" against Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan has drawn renewed attention to Congress's role in approving military action as part of a potential broader war.
Read More on Politics
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine's War Powers Resolution pending in the Senate has been mirrored in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republican Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ro Khanna of California introduced a resolution on Tuesday.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was enacted to limit the president's ability to commit U.S. armed forces to hostilities abroad without congressional consent.
What To Know
A letter published on Monday was led by Representative Pat Ryan of New York, a U.S. Army veteran, and cosigned by 11 fellow House Democrats, who described themselves as "patriots who love our country."
The other legislators are as follows:
- Salud Carbajal, California—Marine Corps Reserve
- Gil Cisneros, California—Navy
- Herb Conaway, New Jersey—Air Force
- Chris Deluzio, Pennsylvania—Navy
- Maggie Goodlander, New Hampshire—Navy Reserve
- Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania—Air Force
- Ted Lieu, California—Air Force
- Jimmy Panetta, California—Navy Reserve
- Bobby Scott, Virginia—Army
- Derek Tran, California—Army
- Eugene Vindman, Virginia—Army
Newsweek reached out to Ryan and others for comment.
The lawmakers and veterans of multiple U.S. military branches are imploring the Trump administration not to jump into a conflict with Iran and other nations, saying that wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which were fought by many of the signees, have led to no accountability, years after trillions of dollars and countless deaths.
"Twenty years ago, in their rush to appear strong and tough, politicians—from both parties—failed to ask the hard questions before starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," the letter reads. "They failed us, our fellow veterans, and the American people.
"Now, trillions of dollars and countless deaths later, we still haven't gotten accountability. We refuse to make those same mistakes."
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The letter also says that the dozen lawmakers "are under no illusions about the nature of the Iranian regime and its proxies," referring to them as "evil" and intent to destroy both the U.S. and Israel.
"Many of us lost friends to Iranian-backed terror," the letter continues. "We must continue to stand strongly with our Israeli allies, including active and robust support for the defense of the state of Israel and its people, as we have for decades.
"But we must be very clear: American-led, offensive military operations against Iran—including Saturday night's preventive air strikes—are different."
Carbajal told Newsweek on Monday: "As a Marine veteran, I served my country with pride but also understand the human cost of war. That cost is why our Founding Fathers gave Congress the power to declare war—to ensure that our nation has a transparent and honest conversation before we send Americans into harm's way.
"That's why I joined my fellow House Democratic veterans in reaffirming this essential constitutional duty. We owe it to our servicemembers, their families, and the American people to prevent a rushed and reckless entry into war."
A spokesperson for Goodlander shared the following statement with Newsweek: "Under the United States Constitution, Congress plays a critical role in questions of war and peace. I'll never stop working to ensure we execute our constitutional responsibility, protect the 40,000 U.S. forces serving in the Middle East today, and keep the American people safe."
Deluzio told Newsweek that he and his fellow veterans swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, "even if it meant risking everything."
"Many of us served in the decades-long 'forever war' in the Middle East, and veterans will bear the costs of that service for years to come," he said. "Back then, chicken hawks and others pushing for a war of choice made the disastrous decision to go to war in Iraq. Too many politicians failed to do their duty to avoid such a disaster.
"Once again, our country is being taken into war that the American people have not approved and that the Congress has not even debated. Our Constitution means something, and it means that Congress, not the president, has the authority to declare war and authorize military force. We need action in the House and the Senate to constrain President Trump's march to war."
Patricia Crouse, political scientist in residence at the University of New Haven, told Newsweek on Monday that she believes the current push to update the War Powers Act is a direct response to the situation in the Middle East. But it's a legislative effort that gained traction during the first and second Gulf Wars, she said.
"As in the past, though, I don't believe it will gain much traction," Crouse said. "Other than Massie and MTG (Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene), Republicans in the House are fully behind Trump's actions and seem in no rush to limit his powers. The situation in the Senate is similar.
"Without support from Republicans in both chambers, anything Democrats attempt to do is purely symbolic."
Kaine told Punchbowl News on Monday that he is privy to Senate GOP support of his resolution, saying that lawmakers have expressed interest in signing off on whether Congress, not just the president, should have a say in attacking other nations.
"I know I will have Republican support. How much is unclear," Kaine said. "The day-to-day events will affect this...This is a very evolving situation."
What People Are Saying
Ryan, in a statement on Monday: "I am supporting a War Powers Resolution because it is the clear and sacred Constitutional duty for Congress, not the President, to declare war. As our Founders intended, this will ensure we have a full and honest conversation with the American people about what American military action against Iran would mean. We stand ready and willing to execute our Constitutional responsibility, to protect our troops, and to keep the American people safe."
Lieu, in a statement on Sunday: "There will be a bipartisan, classified briefing by the Administration this Tuesday. I urge the Administration to address what congressional authorization it relied on for the military strikes, if any. I also want the Administration to address many unanswered questions, such as if the strikes achieved their intended objectives, how the Administration intends to protect Americans and our service members from potential future attacks, and what the Administration's plan is going forward."
What Happens Next
Democratic Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Adam Smith of Washington, and Jim Himes of Connecticut—ranking members of the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Intelligence committees, respectively—are drafting their own War Powers resolution, according to Punchbowl News.
Updated 6/23/25, 4:57 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comments from Deluzio.
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