Lawmakers revive bipartisan push to repeal military force consent

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is renewing the push to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, the law that presidents have relied on to greenlight armed action without congressional approval.

Reps. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, and Pramila Jayapal, Washington Democrat, say it’s time to scrap the measure in the name of ending “forever wars” and reasserting Congress’ oversight role.

“For almost a quarter of a century, this AUMF has been used to justify open-ended military operations across multiple countries, against groups and individuals that did not even exist in 2001 and were not connected to 9/11, without congressional authorization or oversight,” Mr. Massie said in a statement. “Too many American lives and too much American treasure has been expended on these endless foreign conflicts.”

Ms. Jayapal said repealing the law was necessary to help rein in President Trump’s war powers.

“As the Trump administration threatens military force in Nigeria and conducts strikes against alleged narcoterrorists, Congress must reassert our constitutional power to declare war to protect our servicemembers and our national security,” she said, also in a statement.

Congress first passed the AUMF in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, authorizing the president to use “all necessary and appropriate force” against those responsible. The Senate approved it 98-0.

More than two decades later, most of the lawmakers who voted for it are no longer in office, but the law remains a cornerstone of U.S. military policy.

Presidents Bush, Obama, Biden, and Trump have all relied on the AUMF to conduct military operations, sparking a debate in Washington over how much unilateral authority the commander-in-chief should have.

Past repeal efforts gained traction only to collapse amid divisions on Capitol Hill, where hawks warn against constraining presidential power.

While Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war, presidents of both parties have expanded their unilateral authority, often citing national security threats that emerge quickly and without warning.

The Trump administration’s recent strikes against alleged narco-terrorists have added to the political fight.

Republicans recently rejected a proposal from Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia that would block further military action in the Caribbean without congressional approval.

Supporters of the latest repeal effort argue the 2001 law is overly broad and outdated. They say it must be rewritten to reflect the current terror landscape and provide clear guidance on where hostilities can occur.