1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing in urgent opposition to the ongoing war with Iran — a conflict that is not only intensifying human suffering across the region, but is actively eroding the international order and isolating the United States from its allies. What is unfolding is not abstract. It is human. In Lebanon, displacement has now surged past one million people. Families are fleeing with nothing. Entire neighborhoods have been emptied under sustained bombardment. Hospitals are strained or failing. Food systems are breaking down. Children are sleeping in schools, in cars, in the open — wherever they can find safety. This is not a contained conflict. It is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in real time. In Iran, reports that U.S. and Israeli strikes are hitting critical civilian infrastructure should alarm every member of Congress. Power systems, transportation networks, and basic urban services are being degraded. These are not just “targets” — they are the systems that keep civilians alive. When they are destroyed, it is not governments that suffer first — it is ordinary people. We are watching the slow unmaking of cities. Tehran, a city of millions, is now under sustained threat. The longer this continues, the more irreversible the damage becomes — not just to buildings, but to the fabric of civilian life. The same is true in Beirut, where cycles of destruction and displacement are compounding an already fragile reality. The consequences of this level of urban devastation will last for generations. And for what? There is still no clearly defined objective, no credible endgame, and no explanation to the American people for why this war is necessary. Instead, the United States appears to be following a path set by others — drawn deeper into a conflict that is not grounded in our national interest and that risks spiraling far beyond anyone’s control. At the same time, this war is damaging something even more fundamental: the credibility of the United States on the global stage. For decades, the United States has claimed to uphold a rules-based international order — one grounded in sovereignty, restraint, and the protection of civilians. That credibility is now being traded away. Allies are watching. Many are already distancing themselves. Others are openly critical. Meanwhile, adversaries are being handed a gift — a clear example they can point to when justifying their own actions elsewhere in the world. We are undermining the very system that has helped prevent broader conflict for generations. And the risks are not contained to Iran and Lebanon. This war is placing millions of civilians across the Middle East — including in partner and allied countries — in increasing danger. The potential for regional spillover is real and growing. Each escalation widens the circle of risk. Congress cannot remain passive in the face of this. I am calling on you to act decisively: • Block all additional funding for this war and refuse to enable further escalation. • Demand a full and public accounting of U.S. involvement, objectives, and legal justification. • Launch immediate investigations into the humanitarian consequences of this conflict, including displacement and civilian infrastructure damage. • Reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over war powers and force a binding debate and vote on continued involvement. • Press for an immediate shift toward de-escalation, diplomacy, and coordination with international partners. This is a defining moment. The United States can continue down a path of destruction, isolation, and instability — or it can choose to step back, re-engage with the international community, and act in a way that reflects both its values and its long-term interests. Right now, we are failing that test. The suffering is real. The damage is mounting. And the longer this continues, the harder it will be to undo. Congress must act — not later, but now.