1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that Congress immediately reassert its constitutional authority over war and peace in response to the current occupant of the White House’s escalating and unauthorized military aggression. That creature won a plurality — NOT a majority — of the votes in 2024 after promising to end America’s involvement in foreign wars and pursue an “America First” foreign policy rooted in restraint. Instead, his inept administration has launched or threatened military action across multiple regions—without congressional authorization, without transparency, and without an obvious strategy, though it is becoming apparent that his strategy is to appease the 1% and his donors. U.S. forces have conducted airstrikes in Nigeria. The administration has bombed Iranian nuclear processing facilities and publicly threatened direct military intervention in Iran’s internal protests, declaring the United States “locked and loaded.” Those threats prompted warnings from Iranian leaders that U.S. troops in the region could be targeted in retaliation. The inept defense secretary is rattling sabers in Greenland’s direction. Most alarming, the current regime has now publicly asserted that it has taken custody of Venezuela’s sitting president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife following what it described as a large-scale military operation. Venezuelan authorities report explosions, low-flying aircraft over Caracas, widespread power outages, strikes affecting both civilian and military sites, and an estimated 80 civilian deaths. Venezuela has declared a state of emergency and ordered national mobilization in response, while neighboring countries have begun taking military and humanitarian precautions amid fears of regional escalation. If the regime's claim is accurate, the forcible seizure of a foreign head of state by U.S. forces constitutes an unauthorized use of force and an act of war under international law. No president has the authority to abduct a foreign leader, conduct regime-change operations, or initiate hostilities without explicit authorization from Congress. None of these actions were preceded by a declaration of war or a specific Authorization for Use of Military Force. They violate Article I of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, which exists precisely to prevent presidents from dragging the nation into war through secrecy, impulse, or distraction. I am no fan of Maduro and believe he took office illegitimately (which should endear him to the felon in the White House). This action fits a pattern of reckless and undisciplined warmongering that places U.S. service members in immediate danger. Even limited military operations involve grave risk; those risks multiply when missiles are fired, aircraft fly combat missions, and adversaries are provoked into retaliation. With the seizure of Venezuela’s president, every American soldier, sailor, pilot, and diplomat in the region becomes a potential target. Congress cannot abdicate its responsibilities. As your constituent, I insist that you IMMEDIATELY: 1. Demand prompt public explanations and classified briefings from the White House and Department of Defense on all recent and ongoing military actions. 2. Convene oversight hearings to examine legal justification, civilian harm, strategic objectives, and escalation risks related to operations in Venezuela, Iran, Nigeria, and the broader region. 3. Invoke the War Powers Resolution to require the immediate cessation of hostilities absent explicit congressional authorization. 4. Use Congress’s power of the purse to block funding for any unauthorized military action. 5. If hearings establish that the president has willfully violated the Constitution or federal law, initiate impeachment proceedings as required by your oath of office. No president may wage war by decree or seize foreign leaders under cover of chaos. Congress must defend the Constitution, protect U.S. service members, and stop this dangerous slide into permanent, unauthorized war.