Rep. Khanna Introduces the Illegal War Refund Act

Today, Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced the Illegal War Refund Act, legislation that would require the federal government to refund Americans for the economic costs they have borne as a result of the Trump Administration's illegal and unauthorized war in Iran. The bill would require the federal government to calculate the war's economic impact on American taxpayers and cut the Department of Defense budget by that amount, returning the money directly to American tax filers and their dependents.

The war in Iran has driven up costs for American families through higher gas prices, food prices, interest rates, and inflation. Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi estimates that the war has cost the American people $230 billion, or $1,760 per American household.

"Trump campaigned on lower costs and no new wars. We are now in the eighth month of an illegal war in Iran that was never authorized by Congress. While the wealthy and powerful profit off the war, American taxpayers should not bear the economic costs of the president's broken promises. They deserve their money back," said Rep. Ro Khanna.

The Illegal War Refund Act would:

• Require the Office of Management and Budget to calculate the total economic costs to U.S. taxpayers from the Iran war each fiscal year, including costs from increased interest rates, fuel prices, food prices, and inflation.
• Transfer an amount equal to those economic costs from Department of Defense funds to the Department of the Treasury.
• Require the funds to be transferred proportionally from Defense Department accounts, while exempting accounts related to military personnel, military construction, and the Defense Health Program.
• Require the Department of the Treasury to make equal payments to eligible U.S. tax filers and their dependents.
• Prohibit the name, signature, or likeness of any elected official from appearing on any letter, check, or other document related to the payments.

Original Cosponsors: Representative Chuy García (D-IL), Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR), and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).

Supporting Organizations: Win Without War, Demand Progress, Public Citizen, National Iranian American Council Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Council for a Livable World.