Washington’s congressional delegation was divided along party lines in reacting to President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
Democrats largely criticized the president’s decision. They said he should’ve consulted Congress and suggested he’d put the U.S. at risk of getting drawn into another protracted conflict in the Middle East.
Washington’s two Republicans in the House applauded the move, pointing to Iran’s ambitions to build nuclear weapons.
On Monday, Iran responded to the U.S. attack by firing missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Below is a roundup of lawmakers’ statements.
The Senators
(Murray and Cantwell are both Democrats)
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray:
We can all agree that Iran should never possess a nuclear weapon. But the American people do not want to begin a war with Iran, and Trump does not have the unilateral authority to start one.
This strike was unconstitutional. I share the questions the American people have. What is the strategy here? Why are we putting American lives at risk? The administration must now do its utmost to ensure service members and civilians in the region are protected against retaliation.
The United States of America is a democracy with constitutional separation of powers, and that requires a president — any president — to come to Congress to approve the use of military force.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell:
The United States should work to do everything it can to avoid a larger war with Iran or a larger Middle East conflict. It requires working with our allies and the international community to move towards diplomatic solutions that ensure that Iran is no longer a state sponsor of terrorism and national security threat.
Congress should work to pass the Enhanced Iranian Sanctions Act. Congress must also reassert its constitutional authorities to head off future reckless or shortsighted Presidential actions on issues of war and trade. The United States must rebuild the international coalition of allies and partners forged under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and build on it by penalizing countries that break international sanctions and buy Iranian oil at discounted prices.
House Republicans
U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner:
There is no greater threat to the world than nuclear proliferation, let alone from a regime that has consistently used radical Islamic terrorists to attack and kill Americans for nearly 4 decades. I fully support President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuke reactor. Trump gave Iran a choice. The Ayatollah chose poorly.
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse:
The decisive actions taken by the United States come as Iran refused to end development of their nuclear program, and I stand with our ally Israel as we work together to end this dangerous regime’s efforts towards a nuclear weapon of mass destruction. Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
House Democrats
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith:
(Smith is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee)
I condemn in the strongest terms the President’s decision to order the U.S. military to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. The President did not seek authorization from Congress or demonstrate that Iran posed an immediate threat to the security of the United States. Furthermore, the President failed to provide clear objectives for these actions and there are no guarantees that it will eliminate the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon or how long it might set their program back.
Engaging in direct conflict places U.S. service members and military sites in the Middle East squarely in the crosshairs of Iran and its many proxies. Tonight’s actions could further escalate tensions, destabilize the region, and drag the United States into an avoidable war.
The way to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to protect American service members is through diplomacy and negotiation, not entering into direct conflict. The path that the President has chosen risks unleashing a wider war in the region that is both incredibly unpredictable and treacherous and that threatens the safety and security of the United States, Israel, and ultimately the world.
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene:
Trump’s strike against Iran was unconstitutional. Under the Constitution, Congress has the explicit power to declare war and authorize military force.
These actions risk drawing the U.S. and our service members into another war in the Middle East, without explanation.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen:
The history of military conflict in the Middle East is that conflicts are difficult to contain and never seem to end. The Administration’s decision to unilaterally intervene in the Israel-Iran war by bombing Iran’s nuclear program sites will drag the United States deeper into the Middle East without a clear end game.
The United States must now focus on protecting U.S. forces in the region, coordinating with allies to share intelligence regarding Iranian or proxy retaliation, and seeking a return to diplomacy.
Diplomacy has always been the best way to impose long-term limits on the Iranian nuclear program, like the multilateral agreement President Obama achieved before Trump unwisely pulled out of it. It remains unclear how much damage the strike did to the Iranian nuclear program infrastructure.
Congress must reassert its authority and oversight over Trump’s military decisions and not be cowed into approving a bloated Pentagon budget using this attack as a pretext.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal:
The authority to declare war belongs solely to Congress. Trump’s unconstitutional and escalatory strikes risk drawing US troops and the American people — who are overwhelmingly opposed — into another forever war. Congress must immediately exercise our duty to restrain this President.
U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier:
President Trump’s unilateral decision, made without proper consultation with Congress, will have widespread consequences that we cannot predict.
We know Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism around the world and must never possess a nuclear weapon. There is no guarantee that yesterday’s actions will permanently achieve that goal, and none of us want the U.S. pulled into another endless war in the Middle East that puts our country and brave servicemembers at extreme risk.
We must do everything possible to de-escalate and foster lasting diplomacy, peace, and stability in the Middle East.
U.S. Rep. Emily Randall:
President Trump’s decision to circumvent Congress to attack Iran is as unconstitutional as it is terrifying. This decision has put our service members, the American people, and innocent civilians in the region at significant risk — with no clear objective and no plan for what comes next.
We can have political differences — that’s a core principle of our democracy. But what we cannot tolerate is the abuse of power — and our constitution mandates that no president can take military action without the approval of Congress.
While we can agree that Iran should not have nuclear power, we do not need another endless war or more families getting knocks on the door that their loved one is gone.
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland:
The Islamic Republic Guard (IRG) of Iran must be stopped in its quest for nuclear weapons. They are the most prolific state sponsor of terrorism — supporting and funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. For the 40+ years the IRG has ruled Iran, they have abused and terrorized their own people, and stated that they seek to destroy Israel and the United States.
Peace and stability in the region must now be the priority through multinational diplomacy and thoughtful negotiations. President Trump’s action on Iran has dangerously escalated tensions and put American lives at risk.
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez:
Did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
