According to a report by The Washington Post, President Donald Trump’s recent authorization of military strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure has reignited a heated debate on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers from both parties questioning the legality and strategic wisdom of the move. The operation, launched without prior consultation with Congress, has been met with concern regarding both constitutional authority and the intelligence behind the decision.
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a vocal advocate for limiting executive war powers, criticized the strikes as unjustified, arguing there was no immediate threat to the United States to warrant bypassing congressional approval. Massie, in collaboration with Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), has reintroduced a resolution that would require any future military action to gain congressional authorization. “Military force should be used only when absolutely necessary, and this action didn’t meet that threshold,” Massie said in a statement.
Despite the bipartisan skepticism, some Republican lawmakers have thrown their support behind Trump’s decision. Representative Greg Steube (R-FL), in an interview with Fox News, defended the strikes by pointing to Iran’s longstanding role in regional instability and its support for terrorist groups. Steube referenced the deaths of over 600 American troops attributed to Iranian-backed militias during Trump’s first term, particularly under the leadership of Qasem Soleimani. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting American lives,” Steube asserted.
He also argued that dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities sends a clear message to Tehran and its allies. “President Trump’s actions are about deterrence. You can’t have peace in the Middle East with a nuclear-armed Iran,” he said.
