1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Donald Trump campaigned on keeping America out of wars. Yet, we are seven months into war with Iran—without a clearly articulated objective, an achievable end state, or an explanation of how this serves the country. The CBO estimates the conflict cost the DOD about $38 billion by August 1 and another $2 billion to $3 billion for each month it continues. CBO reports that extensive use of missile-defense interceptors has left the United States with diminished inventories. Meanwhile, disruptions to oil and shipping have driven up gasoline, diesel, transportation, and consumer prices. CBO estimates that the war will raise inflation by approximately half a percentage point by early 2027. Americans are paying for this war at the pump, at the grocery store, through higher government borrowing, and through reduced military readiness. Our forces are using expensive interceptors against cheap drones and missiles. Allies are absorbing economic and security damage from a conflict they did not choose. Yet Congressional leaders have not given the public a coherent explanation. On September 15, the House passed H. Con. Res. 93, directing the president to remove American forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran. The vote was 220–204. Tennessee’s Republican representatives—Diana Harshbarger, Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais, Andy Ogles, John Rose, Matt Van Epps, and David Kustoff—all voted against that resolution. Representative Steve Cohen voted for it. Blackburn and Hagerty have been busy too. On April 15, both voted no on a joint resolution directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress had not authorized. It failed 47–52. On June 23, both voted no on H. Con. Res. 86, another resolution directing an end to the Iran hostilities. That resolution nevertheless passed the Senate 50–48.   What are you doing to protect Tennesseans from rising fuel, food, farming, and transportation costs? What diplomatic efforts will you make, and what timetable will you demand for ending American involvement? Your record shows you are doing nothing but kissing Trump’s hand. Why has Tennessee’s delegation placed loyalty to a single man ahead of constitutional duty to decide whether this country goes to war? Explain why tens of billions of dollars are being spent while Tennessee families bear higher prices and the country’s defensive stockpiles are depleted. Why are you loyal to a president who initiated hostilities without congressional authorization and continues them despite their enormous economic and strategic costs? Your support cannot be justified by constitutional duty, military necessity, fiscal responsibility, or the public interest; what does explain it? Party obedience, fear of retaliation, personal ambition, financial benefit, or corruption? What are you receiving, protecting, or hoping to gain that matters more than your duty to Tennessee? Is my Tennessee delegation part of the Trump spoils machine? I think so. It is the only explanation. Public office is not personal allegiance to a president. It is a public trust. Stop lining your pockets. Stop the war. And give a clear accounting of your spoils and future spoils of office-not the Clarence Thomas version.