Congress Must Reclaim War Powers and End Catastrophic Executive Militarism

I am writing to demand that Congress reclaim its constitutional authority under Article I and put an end to systemic executive overreach in matters of war, military force, foreign policy, and so-called “defense” spending. The Constitution is unambiguous: Congress—not the executive branch—holds the power to declare war, authorize military force, control federal spending, and conduct oversight. These authorities exist to prevent unilateral warfare, permanent militarization, and executive domination of foreign policy. Yet for decades, Congress has allowed the executive branch to deploy military force across the globe without authorization, expand the Pentagon budget without meaningful scrutiny, and impose sweeping sanctions that function as collective punishment. These actions are routinely justified as promoting security or democracy, but in practice they destabilize entire regions, violate international law, and fuel humanitarian catastrophe. This lawlessness is applied selectively. Countries and groups that defy U.S. interests are sanctioned, attacked, or isolated, while governments aligned with U.S. interests are funded, armed, and shielded from accountability while committing widespread violations of international and humanitarian law, including committing genocide(e.g. Israel). This includes continued cooperation with and support for oppressive regimes, while other states are targeted under the pretense of legal or humanitarian concern. Congress must also block and revoke funding for initiatives such as the so-called “Board of Peace,” which seeks to impose external control over occupied Palestinian territory in Gaza in violation of international law. Congress cannot legitimize colonial governance structures while claiming to uphold a rules-based international order. Endless militarization abroad has come at a direct cost to people at home. Trillions of dollars are allocated to the Department of Defense while social programs, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure are neglected. Congress controls the purse. That power must be exercised. To start, all partnerships with Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, and Hungary must be ended. Note: this list is profoundly incomplete. Reclaiming war powers and enforcing adherence to international law is not optional. It is a constitutional obligation.