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

I am writing once again to demand urgent congressional action to end the escalating war with Iran and to hold accountable the leaders responsible for launching and prosecuting this dangerous conflict. With each passing day, the consequences of this war become more alarming. What began as a sudden military assault has rapidly spiraled into a widening regional conflict with mounting civilian casualties, rising economic instability, and increasing risks to American lives. Reports indicate that thousands of people have already been killed since the conflict began, the vast majority of them in Iran, while retaliatory missile and drone strikes continue to spread instability across the region. The conflict is also threatening global stability. Ongoing fighting and retaliatory attacks have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s energy supply passes. The resulting instability has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets and heightened fears of broader economic disruption. At the same time, deeply disturbing rhetoric and conduct from senior U.S. officials are raising serious questions about whether international law is being respected in this war. In particular, statements from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have caused widespread alarm. In a recent press briefing he used the phrase “no quarter,” language historically associated with the unlawful practice of refusing to take prisoners during wartime. Under the laws of armed conflict, declarations of “no quarter” are widely understood as violations of international humanitarian law. When senior American officials speak in ways that appear to dismiss or undermine the laws of war, the consequences extend far beyond rhetoric. Such statements risk encouraging unlawful conduct, weakening global norms designed to protect civilians and prisoners, and severely damaging America’s credibility as a country that claims to uphold international law. There are also serious unanswered questions about civilian casualties in this conflict. Recent reports of a strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab that killed large numbers of civilians, including children, have shocked the world. Members of Congress themselves have already called for an investigation into whether U.S. forces were responsible and whether proper safeguards were followed to prevent such a tragedy. These events are not isolated. They reflect a broader pattern of recklessness and strategic confusion that increasingly calls into question the legality, morality, and wisdom of this war. Congress cannot remain silent. The Constitution gives Congress — not the president — the authority to declare war. Yet the United States has been drawn into a major armed conflict without a clear authorization from Congress, without a defined strategy for success, and without a credible plan for de-escalation. Diplomatic opportunities appear to be slipping away while the conflict deepens and spreads. If the United States is to remain a nation governed by law rather than by the unilateral decisions of any one administration, then accountability must be demanded now. I urge Congress to take the following actions immediately: • Launch a full congressional investigation into the origins, legal justification, and conduct of this war. • Require the President and senior officials — including the Secretary of Defense — to testify under oath before Congress about the decision-making that led to this conflict. • Investigate potential violations of international humanitarian law, including rhetoric or policies suggesting the abandonment of established rules of engagement. • Block any additional funding for military escalation until Congress has fully reviewed and debated the legality and strategy of this war. • Reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over war powers and prevent the executive branch from dragging the country deeper into an unauthorized conflict. The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law — especially when decisions of war and peace are being made. If this war continues without oversight and without accountability, the damage to America’s credibility, security, and moral standing may last for generations. Congress must act now.