Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To End President Trump’s Reckless War In Iran

Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To End President Trump's Reckless War In Iran

Apr 13, 2026

**Watch the press conference here**

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a press conference with several of her Senate Democratic colleagues to announce a new wave of War Powers Resolutions that can be used to force a vote to stop President Trump's reckless and unconstitutional war in Iran, which is endangering American troops, jeopardizing national security, and raising costs for New York families. Specifically, Gillibrand's resolution directs the president to remove the U.S. armed forces from hostilities with or against Iran unless military force is explicitly authorized by Congress.

War Powers Resolutions are privileged, meaning they can be brought to the Senate floor for a vote by any senator ten days after they are filed. Gillibrand joins Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) in putting forth these new resolutions, which come in addition to those filed over the past several weeks by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

"President Trump chose to start a war knowing it was going to raise gas prices on Americans already struggling to get by," said Senator Gillibrand. "The president, and his party, just don't care about anyone other than themselves. They lie, cheat and steal to enrich themselves and leave regular folks with the bill. It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to stand up and do their job."

"As the administration's reckless war of choice spirals further out of control and Americans face even greater costs here at home, the need for the Senate to do its job and stop this war is intensifying," said Senator Booker. "I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues in this effort to use every tool at our disposal to uphold our constitutional responsibility, check a power mad president who has plunged our nation and world into chaos, and stop this unconstitutional war."

"The American people want lower costs, not more forever wars. But President Trump has dragged us into an unnecessary and costly war with Iran that has sent energy prices soaring and killed 13 U.S. servicemembers and thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Iran," said Senator Kaine. "It's time for Congress to finally step up and put an end to this deeply unpopular war. I'm grateful to Senators Merkley, Gillibrand, Van Hollen, Kelly, Warnock, and Kim for joining us in our efforts to keep giving the Senate opportunities to do that."

"Donald Trump's disastrous war in Iran has been nothing but a series of cascading mistakes fueled by incompetence and ego," said Senator Murphy. "Six weeks in and all he's managed to do is embolden a more hardline Iranian regime, spike gas prices for millions of American families, and get thousands of people, including 13 U.S. service members, killed. Republicans need to pull their heads out of the sand and work with Democrats to end this war that is completely out of control."

"Donald Trump is now escalating his illegal war against Iran, instituting a blockade that will both put U.S. servicemembers at risk and drive up costs worldwide," said Senator Schiff. "Republicans were calling for hearings on a peace agreement that JD Vance failed to deliver but are now silent on holding hearings on this costly and extended conflict. As we have said for more than a month, if Senate Republicans will not do their basic constitutional duty and vote on whether to authorize this war, we will force the debate they are avoiding. I'm grateful that more of my colleagues are joining this effort so we can ensure accountability for a war that the American people do not want and cannot afford."

"President Trump's war of choice has been nothing short of a disaster for the American people and the world. It has caused gas and fertilizer prices to skyrocket for families and farmers, killed 13 American troops, and opened the door to an endless expensive foreign conflict,"said Senator Baldwin. "This President's reckless war needs to end. I'm proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues to try to do just that, but the only question is if my Republican colleagues will keep greenlighting an illegal, multibillion-dollar war halfway around the world or join us to stop it."

"Donald Trump continues to plunge our nation deeper into his unjustified war of choice, putting American lives at even further risk abroad and sending prices skyrocketing for Americans at home," said Senator Duckworth. "While Republicans abdicate their responsibilities to our troops and their duty to uphold their oaths, the wanna-be dictator in the White House continues to prove he has no serious plan to end this needless conflict. The Senate must fulfill its constitutional duty and vote to stop it immediately, before our economy takes yet another hit and more lives are lost."

"The Constitution is clear: President Trump does not have the authority to start a war," said Senator Merkley. "Trump's disturbing threats of the past week clearly demonstrate why we cannot trust one person with that power. The Senate must act now to reassert its authority and rein in this unconstitutional war with Iran-not rubber-stamp Trump's reckless warmongering."

"Trump promised to keep America out of foreign wars and work to bring prices down, but he has done just the opposite by launching an illegal war of choice with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Iran," said Senator Van Hollen. "This reckless action has left 13 U.S. service members dead and hundreds injured, killed thousands of civilians across the Middle East, and cost the American people dearly - in billions of taxpayer dollars per day and through higher prices across the board. With the enormous toll this war has taken on our nation and the region - and especially after Trump's grotesque threat to commit massive war crimes in Iran - I urge our Republican colleagues to join us in reining in this lawless president and bringing this war to a permanent end, before he does even more harm."

"Americans want Washington to improve their lives, not to drag us into another endless conflict in the Middle East that is putting American service members at risk and driving up costs at home," said Senator Kelly. "Congress has the power to stop this chaos and hold this president in check, and that's exactly what we should do. Then Washington can focus on what the American people need, starting with lowering costs."

"The Constitution is very clear that the declaration of war is in the authority of the Congress, not the president," said Senator Warnock. "American service members have lost their lives, and billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on bullets and bombs-without the president making a case, laying out a plan, or even allowing a debate in Congress. Something as serious and solemn as war deserves a debate and deserves a vote. I intend to hold this president accountable."

"Donald Trump has waged this war in the American people's name, without our say," said Senator Kim. "Congress cannot watch from the sidelines as Americans continue to suffer and foot the bill for an illegal and devastating war. With a president making unconscionable threats of civilization destruction, it is our duty to immediately vote to end this war."

Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for ending unauthorized forever wars and reasserting Congress' responsibility over the use of military force. In 2019, Gillibrand introduced the War Powers Reform Resolution, which would require the president to provide Congress with a clear objective for military action, as well as evidence that the use of the United States' armed forces is necessary, appropriate, and proportional to the mission; a finite list of adversaries; and the names of the countries where the U.S. military will deploy. Since President Trump began his reckless war of choice in Iran in February, Senator Gillibrand has repeatedly called for an end to the war and highlighted the harm it has done to the American people.

The full text of Senator Gillibrand's resolution can be found here.

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