Gallego, Massie, Khanna slam Trump’s Iran strikes without congressional approval

WASHINGTON, DC: A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Representative Ro Khanna, Representative Thomas Massie, and Senator Ruben Gallego issued an emergency condemnation on Saturday, February 28, following President Trump's announcement of major combat operations against Iran.

Critics argue the joint US-Israeli assault, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," was launched without constitutional authority and constitutes an illegal regime-change war.

The President used a Truth Social video to urge Iranian civilians and military forces to topple their own government.

In response, opponents in Congress warned that the American people are exhausted by multi-billion-dollar Middle Eastern conflicts that risk American lives for unjustified goals.

War launched without Congress's approval

Thomas Massie, a frequent critic of executive overreach, called the strikes "acts of war unauthorized by Congress." 

Massie previously introduced a June 2025 resolution directing the President to end any hostilities against Iran absent specific congressional authorization.

Critics argue the action violates the War Powers Resolution, which limits unilateral military engagement without legislative approval. 

Lawmakers argue that the President cannot unilaterally commit the nation to a conflict with a country of 90 million people without formal legislative debate and approval

Working-class kids pay ultimate price

Senator Ruben Gallego, an Iraq War veteran, offered a personal critique of the intervention, noting that he lost friends in past illegal wars.

He argued that young, working-class Americans should not be forced to die for a "regime change and a war that hasn’t been explained or justified" to the public.

Gallego emphasized that the United States can support democracy movements and the Iranian people through non-military means.

He insisted that sending troops into harm's way for the sake of toppling a government is a repeat of historical mistakes that the country must avoid.

Congress must reconvene on Monday

Representative Ro Khanna issued an urgent call for every member of Congress to go on record this weekend regarding their voting plans.

Khanna stated that Congress must "convene on Monday" to vote on the War Powers Resolution (WPR) co-sponsored with Massie to effectively stop the war.

Khanna asserted that Donald Trump has launched an illegal war that places American lives at immediate risk.

He argued that the US should not be in a state of war with Iran and that the legislature must fulfill its duty to intervene.

Public tired of regime change

The dissenting lawmakers claim that their opposition reflects a broader national fatigue with costly foreign interventions.

Khanna noted that the American people are tired of wars that drain billions of dollars while offering no clear benefit to national security.

As the military operation continues, the focus in Washington has shifted to whether the Democratic-led effort to compel a vote will gain enough bipartisan support to challenge the administration's military agenda.

Opponents remain firm that peace and democracy in Iran must be won without the sacrifice of American soldiers.