Press Release: Joint National Coalition Urging Congress to Block Funding for Trump’s Illegal War on Iran

Washington, DC – As President Trump continues to defy Congress by waging an unauthorized war against Iran, 14 national organizations are calling on lawmakers to oppose advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), defense appropriations, and any other legislation funding the war unless they include explicit prohibitions on using taxpayer dollars for unauthorized hostilities against Iran. The Senate is expected to take a procedural vote to begin debate on the NDAA this afternoon and opposition to the war in Iran is a big reason why it may fail.

In a joint letter to Congress, the organizations argue that after Congress passed a bipartisan War Powers Resolution directing an end to U.S. hostilities against Iran, the administration’s decision to resume military strikes represents a direct challenge to Congress’ constitutional authority. The coalition urges lawmakers to use their power of the purse to enforce the law by refusing to advance military funding bills that fail to prohibit funding for the illegal war.

“President Trump is running roughshod over Congress to wage a new forever war against Iran,” said Ryan Costello, Policy Director at the National Iranian American Council. “Enough is enough. If Congress wants its vote to end this disastrous and backfiring war to mean anything, it must use its most powerful leverage and block taxpayer funds from being used to continue it.”

“Lawmakers shouldn’t help Trump stick working Americans with the bill for continuing his costly and disastrous war on Iran,” said Dylan Williams, Vice President for Government Affairs at the Center for International Policy. “Congress can use its power of the purse to put a stop to this illegal war.”

“Donald Trump’s illegal and reckless decision to restart the war with Iran, in direct defiance of Congress’s bipartisan war powers resolutions, is unacceptable,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, President of J Street. “J Street is proud to stand with our partner organizations in demanding that Congress act immediately, harness its power over the purse, and work to end Trump’s aimless Iran war.”