A coalition of House Democrats who are veterans has publicly declared their support for a war powers resolution following recent U.S. military strikes against Iran. In a letter addressed to President Trump, the group emphasized their patriotic duty, stating, “We write firstmost as Patriots who love our country. Each and every one of us wore the uniform with pride. Each and every one of us was ready and willing to lay down our lives to protect our fellow Americans, and to support and defend our Constitution.”
This group of Democratic representatives includes notable figures such as Pat Ryan from New York, Gil Cisneros from California, and Eugene Vindman from Virginia, among others. They expressed their gratitude for the bravery of U.S. troops, highlighting the contributions of B-2 pilots and service members stationed in the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility.
The letter, which features the signatures of a dozen Democratic lawmakers, articulates their deep concern regarding military actions. The representatives who signed include Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania), Bobby Scott (Virginia), Jimmy Panetta (California), Derek Tran (California), Herb Conaway (New Jersey), Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), Salud Carbajal (California), and Ted Lieu (California). They collectively urged the President to reconsider the implications of military engagement in the region.
On Saturday, President Trump announced that the United States had conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, escalating tensions in a conflict that reignited earlier this month between Iran and Israel. In response to these developments, Representatives Thomas Massie (Republican-Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (Democrat-California) introduced a war powers resolution last week. This resolution aims to compel President Trump to cease the use of U.S. armed forces in Iran without obtaining congressional approval.
The lawmakers underscored the importance of adhering to the Constitution, stating, “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.” They referenced Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that only Congress has the authority to declare war.
When asked for a comment regarding the situation, the White House pointed to a recent post by President Trump on his Truth Social account. In the post, Trump stated, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.” This declaration raises questions about the future of U.S. involvement in the region and the legislative response from Congress.
The ongoing discussion surrounding the war powers resolution highlights the critical balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, particularly in matters of military engagement. As tensions continue to rise, the implications of these actions will be closely monitored by both lawmakers and the American public.
