A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress.
This joint resolution would require the President to end United States military hostilities against any organization designated after February 20, 2025 as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist, any states in which those groups operate, or any non-state organization involved in illegal drug trafficking, unless Congress first authorizes the use of force through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force (AUMF). The bill asserts that Congress—not the President—has the sole power to declare war, and it relies on established expedited legislative procedures to process such measures. It also provides narrowly drawn exceptions for self-defense or imminent threats, and for counternarcotics operations conducted with the involvement of civil authorities. The findings section references recent U.S. military actions against vessels and expresses concerns about the information available to justify those strikes. In short, the bill would effectively constrain ongoing or future military actions against designated terrorists or related drug-trafficking networks unless Congress expressly approves them, while allowing limited self-defense and counternarcotics activities under specified conditions.
Key Points
- 1The bill restates Congress’s sole power to declare war and to authorize use of force, and it targets post-2025 designations of foreign terrorist organizations or SDGTs, as well as states where those groups operate and drug-trafficking networks.
- 2It directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for hostilities against those designated entities or their operating states, unless there is a declaration of war or a specific AUMF granted by Congress.
- 3It preserves limited exceptions: the United States can defend itself against an armed attack or imminent threat, and it can use armed forces in support of civil authorities as part of authorized counternarcotics operations (drug trafficking alone does not constitute an armed attack).
- 4It relies on expedited procedures under the Department of State Authorization Act of 1984–85 and the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to move the measure quickly.
- 5The bill’s findings refer to recent U.S. strikes involving vessels and describe the need for clearer information and legal justification for such actions.