(Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 15, 2021) – There is increasing bipartisan support for repealing the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). There are bipartisan bills in the House and the Senate. This is led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN).

It is important to remember that Congress, not the president, has the constitutional duty to determine when the U.S. goes to war. Repealing the 2002 AUMF would be the first step towards Congress reasserting its constitutional war powers and bringing an end to forever war.

It would also prevent the president from abusing the authorization to justify military actions that Congress has not authorized. The Trump administration previously misused the 2002 Iraq AUMF to justify the assassination of an Iranian general – an attack that killed nine other people.

The 2002 AUMF is not needed for any existing operations. Even if it were repealed, the president would still have authority as Commander in Chief to defend the United States from attack.

Heather Brandon-Smith, the legislative director for militarism and human rights with the Friends Committee on National Legislation discusses the importance of repealing the 2002 AUMF.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) lobbies Congress and the administration to advance peace, justice, opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL fields an expert team of lobbyists on Capitol Hill and works with a grassroots network of thousands of people to advocate for peace and justice. FCNL is a nonpartisan organization with a long and trusted record of working across political divides to achieve positive change.