Congress Must Reclaim War Powers — A War of Choice, Fought Alone

The United States is now weeks into a war with Iran—and the facts emerging make one thing clear: this conflict was avoidable, unplanned, and is now being carried forward without allies. Diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran were making meaningful progress just days before the war began. Key allies believed a deal was within reach to constrain Iran’s nuclear program under international oversight. Follow-up talks were already scheduled. Those talks were abandoned when military strikes began. Since then, the consequences of that decision have escalated rapidly. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil flows—is now effectively closed to most traffic, driving up global energy prices and increasing costs for American families. Yet there was no clear plan to prevent or respond to this outcome. Military experts have warned that reopening the Strait is far from simple. Iran retains the ability to threaten shipping with mines, drones, and small vessels, turning the narrow waterway into what has been described as a “kill box.” Even escorting commercial ships would carry enormous risks, and insurers are already refusing to cover transit through the region. At the same time, the United States is finding itself increasingly isolated. The administration has called on allies to help secure the Strait, but those allies have declined. European nations, Japan, and others have made clear that this is not their war. This reluctance reflects not only the risks involved, but also a broader breakdown in trust following months of strained relations and unilateral actions. Meanwhile, internal dissent has emerged within the U.S. government, with senior officials resigning and questioning whether Iran posed an imminent threat at all—the central justification for military action. Even more troubling, reports indicate that U.S. operations have relied on flawed or outdated intelligence, including a deadly strike that killed civilians at a school. Initial public claims about responsibility were quickly contradicted by subsequent findings. Taken together, these facts point to a war that was launched while diplomacy was still viable, without a clear strategy, and without the support of allies—and that is now producing escalating economic, military, and humanitarian risks. This is precisely why the Constitution grants Congress—not the executive branch—the authority to declare war and oversee its conduct. I urge you to act immediately: • Require full disclosure of the diplomatic proposals under consideration before the war began • Hold hearings on whether military action was taken despite viable negotiations • Demand a clear statement of objectives, benchmarks, and an exit strategy • Investigate intelligence failures and civilian harm resulting from U.S. operations • Enforce the War Powers Resolution, including timelines for authorization or withdrawal • Press for renewed diplomatic engagement and coalition rebuilding War should be the last resort—not the first step after negotiations show progress. When a war begins without necessity, without preparation, and without allies, Congress has both the authority and the obligation to intervene.