Congress Gave Away Its Authority To Declare War and Enabled Trump's Iran War
Congress has not formally declared war since 1942, instead relying on broad authorizations that have enabled presidents to conduct military operations without explicit approval. The Trump administration launched strikes against Iran in early 2026 without congressional authorization, citing various justifications such as preemptive defense and retaliation. This pattern reflects a long-standing erosion of congressional war powers, with presidents increasingly acting unilaterally in military matters.
- ▪Congress last declared war in 1942, during World War II, against Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.
- ▪The Trump administration conducted military strikes in Iran in 2026 without congressional authorization, leading to escalating conflict.
- ▪The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force has been used to justify military actions in 22 countries, far beyond its original scope.
- ▪Presidents have often bypassed the War Powers Resolution, with examples including Obama's Libya campaign and Bush's Gulf deployment.
- ▪Congress has enabled executive overreach by failing to repeal or update outdated war authorizations.
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Foreign Policy Congress Gave Away Its Authority To Declare War and Enabled Trump's Iran War Congress hasn't voted to declare war since 1942, yet the legislative branch constantly refuses to rein in presidents. Fiona Harrigan | From the June 2026 issue Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/04/topicsforeignpolicy-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="An illustration of Donald Trump's face merged with the U.S. Capital dome" alt="An illustration of Donald Trump's face merged with the U.S.
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