Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Putin on new sanctions against Russia: Russia's energy sector remains confident, though some losses are expected
Putin calls talk of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv an attempt at escalation
Putin says he discussed with Trump the impact of the situation with Russian oil supplies on global prices, including in the United States
Dialogue is always better than confrontation, disputes, or continued war: Putin
The global energy balance has been established, and disrupting it is not in the interests of the countries attempting to do so: Putin
Russia's contribution to the global energy balance is very significant: Putin
No self-respecting country does anything under pressure: Putin
New US sanctions are an attempt to pressure Russia: Putin
Israeli media: The West Bank 'annexation' law has been suspended under Netanyahu's directives until further notice
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon: Number of martyrs in Israeli strike rises to two.

US House votes to repeal president’s Middle East war powers

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 11 Sep 2025 18:26
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The House passes a bipartisan amendment to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Middle East war authorizations.

Listen
  • x
  • House votes to repeal Iraq and Gulf war authorizations
    The Capitol is seen in Washington on November 4, 2024 (AP)

In a significant move to reclaim Congressional authority over military engagement, the US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to repeal decades-old laws that authorized war in the Middle East.

The 261-167 vote represents a bipartisan push to rescind the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), originally enacted ahead of the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The repeal was adopted as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is being hailed as a victory for war powers reform advocates, who argue that outdated authorizations enable unchecked presidential use of military force.

Long-awaited win for war powers reform advocates

The amendment was co-sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and garnered support from 49 Republicans and 212 Democrats. Advocates argue that keeping these authorizations in place enables future administrations to bypass Congress in deploying US military power.

Related News

JD Vance slams Israeli West Bank 'annexation' bill as 'insult'

Trump stresses 'annexation' of West Bank 'will not happen': Time

“We don’t need to have Congress effectively modern-day declaring war and leaving it in place for a quarter of a freaking century, or in this case, 34 years,” said Roy.

Meeks added that he was “prepared to fight” in upcoming Senate negotiations to ensure the repeal becomes law.

Pushback from opponents

The proposal had an uncertain path to passage. Initially excluded from the package of amendments allowed for floor debate, the measure was added only after an unusual procedural win in the House Rules Committee. Republicans Ralph Norman (SC), Morgan Griffith (VA), and Chip Roy broke with their party to help Democrats force a debate on the amendment.

Not all lawmakers welcomed the repeal. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-FL) warned that revoking the war powers laws would “tie the president’s hands” in responding to regional threats, including resistance movements in Iraq.

Despite these concerns, the amendment passed with bipartisan backing, though deeper divisions remain over broader defense policies.

Wider debate over executive military power continues

While the vote represents a symbolic step toward limiting presidential war authority, critics note that the repeal will not affect recent military actions, including President Donald Trump’s alleged strike last week on a vessel in the Caribbean he claimed was for smuggling drugs.

The war powers repeal is expected to become a central issue in House-Senate negotiations over the final defense policy package. Although both chambers have voted in recent years to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF, no repeal legislation has yet been enacted into law.

Background on AUMFs

  • 1991 AUMF: Authorized military force during the Gulf War under President George H. W. Bush;
  • 2002 AUMF: Enabled the 2003 invasion of Iraq under President George W. Bush;
  • 2014: Former President Barack Obama used the authorization to justify airstrikes in Iraq and Syria;
  • 2020: US President Donald Trump used it in his first term to greenlight the airstrike that killed the IRGC's Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

While former President Joe Biden never formally used the authorization, his administration argued it was important to keep it intact to respond to any future threats.

  • House of Representatives
  • United States
  • Middle East
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Iraq war authorization
  • US President Donald Trump
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
US-backed GHF in talks over future role in postwar Gaza: FT
Politics

US-backed GHF in talks over future role in postwar Gaza: FT

Rubio warns West Bank annexation threatens Trump’s Gaza peace plan
Politics

Rubio warns West Bank annexation threatens Trump’s Gaza plan

Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa trade barbs in fiery New York mayoral debate.
Politics

Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa trade barbs in fiery New York mayoral debate

Artist’s rendering of the RADICALS satellite in orbit. (AP)
Technology

Europe firms agree on satellite merger to counter Starlink

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS