As huge conflicts continue in the Middle East this March, many questions hang over the United States government and the American people: Is President Trump overstepping his executive power through his military action, and who truly has the ability and right to launch our country into war? Since late Feb. 2026, the United States, paired with Israel, has been engaged in military conflict with Iran involving the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Yet, our Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war.
In Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution, the power to declare is explicitly granted to Congress, the legislative branch, not the executive, nor the President. This specification is purposeful, and the Constitution is clear in its direction. The framers of the Constitution gave this power to Congress as a check to Presidential power, ensuring that American lives and resources would not be sacrificed based on the decision of one person, but rather subjected to a large national consensus through our representatives in Congress. But still, at this time in American history, it seems that the President has taken away the authority of Congress and the people’s right to a say in military action.
The Trump administration has argued, for several incoherent reasons, that these strikes and military moves are necessary for U.S. protection, and under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a President can act in a national emergency. However, this law also mandates that the President must withdraw forces within 60 to 90 days unless Congress provides a specific authorization for use of military force, according to the Authorization for Use of Military Force resolution. The Iran conflict is rapidly expanding, and yet the powers given to Congress aimed at reining in this authority failed in both the House and Senate.
When the President is able to, and does, bypass the people’s representatives and voices to launch a “war of choice” that already costs t $25 billion in the first month, he is overstepping his executive bounds.
