Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) Joins Fellow Democratic Veterans in Asserting Congressional Authority Over War Powers

From Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07)’s office:

Vindman Joins Fellow Democratic Veterans in Asserting Congressional Authority Over War Powers

Following Saturday’s preventive strikes on Iran, Vindman joined 11 veterans in sending a letter to President Trump declaring support for a War Powers Resolution

Washington, D.C. — Today, following Saturday’s preventive strikes on Iran, 25-year Army veteran Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) joined 11 colleagues in asserting Congressional authority over war powers.

In a letter to President Donald Trump, Vindman and his colleagues in the Democratic Veterans Caucus declared their support for a War Powers Resolution.

“Twenty years ago, in their rush to appear strong and tough, politicians – from both parties – failed to ask the hard questions before starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They failed us, our fellow veterans, and the American people. Now, trillions of dollars and countless deaths later, we still haven’t gotten accountability. We refuse to make those same mistakes,” said Vindman and his colleagues. “We are under no illusions about the nature of the Iranian regime and its proxies — they are evil. Iran is intent not only on the destruction of Israel, but also the United States. Many of us lost friends to Iranian-backed terror. We must continue to stand strongly with our Israeli allies — including active and robust support for the defense of the state of Israel and its people, as we have for decades.”

The lawmakers continued, “Before any further escalation, we must be willing to grapple with, and ultimately answer, the hard questions. What are our specific and clear national aims? What means will be required to achieve those aims? What are the estimated financial costs? How many young American men and women could die? Are the American people truly ready to incur these costs? And we cannot repeat our approach from 2001 and 2002. The answer cannot be “we’ll figure it out as we go.”

Read their full letter below.

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Dear President Trump,

We write first-most as Patriots who love our country. Each and every one of us wore the uniform with pride. Each and every one of us was ready and willing to lay down our lives to protect our fellow Americans, and to support and defend our Constitution. With that in mind, we want to thank our troops for their bravery, from the B-2 pilots to those stationed across the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility.

We also write as Veterans. As soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines, many of us served in America’s longest wars. We saw the best of humanity in our fellow veterans’ heroism and selfless service; we also saw the worst of humanity and horrors of war up close and personal.

Twenty years ago, in their rush to appear strong and tough, politicians — from both parties — failed to ask the hard questions before starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They failed us, our fellow veterans, and the American people. Now, trillions of dollars and countless deaths later, we still haven’t gotten accountability.

We refuse to make those same mistakes.

We are under no illusions about the nature of the Iranian regime and its proxies – they are evil. Iran is intent not only on the destruction of Israel, but also the United States. Many of us lost friends to Iranian-backed terror. We must continue to stand strongly with our Israeli allies — including active and robust support for the defense of the state of Israel and its people, as we have for decades.

But we must be very clear: American-led, offensive military operations against Iran — including Saturday night’s preventive air strikes — are different.

We all swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Article 1 Section 8 explicitly requires a vote by Congress to declare war. In recognition of that clear and sacred Constitutional duty, we will all be supporting a War Powers Resolution.

As our Founders intended, this will ensure we have a full and honest conversation with the American people about what American military action against Iran would mean. While destroying nuclear sites may achieve initial tactical success, it far from guarantees long-term strategic victory.

Before any further escalation, we must be willing to grapple with, and ultimately answer, the hard questions.

What are our specific and clear national aims? What means will be required to achieve those aims? What are the estimated financial costs? How many young American men and women could die? Are the American people truly ready to incur these costs?

And we cannot repeat our approach from 2001 and 2002. The answer cannot be “we’ll figure it out as we go.”

We can all agree that more debate was needed before Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to take the time to learn from our mistakes. We need to take the time to involve both the American people and Congress — this is what our Founders intended, and that is what the Constitution requires.

That is what our young Patriots in uniform deserve. That is what the 40,000 US troops stationed in the Middle East deserve. That is what the 7,000+ of our fellow soldiers who died in the Global War on Terror deserved.

We stand ready and willing to execute our Constitutional responsibility, to protect our troops, and to keep the American people safe.

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BACKGROUND

Congressman Vindman is a U.S. Army veteran. He served as an infantry officer and paratrooper including assignments in the 82D Airborne Division and as a company commander leading troops. Soon after, he transitioned to the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corps. As a JAG, Eugene served as an international law advisor in Iraq; as the senior prosecutor in the busiest jurisdiction in the Army; and as a White House National Security Council (NSC) deputy legal advisor. He attained the rank of Colonel before retiring in 2022 after 25 years of service. In Congress, he sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

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