NC’s David Price among ex-lawmakers urging Congress to take back war authority
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sixty-three former officials urged Congress to reclaim its war authority.
- They cited the Iran conflict that cost $11.3 billion in the first six days.
- The letter urged Congress to close loopholes in the War Powers Resolution.
Good morning! It’s Danielle Battaglia with the latest edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration.
A group of 63 former Cabinet officials, members of Congress and governors wrote a letter to the top members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees asking them to reaffirm their authority over declaring war.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Congress tamped down the president’s ability to start armed conflicts by requiring congressional approval or notification of conflict within 48 hours of it starting. If it’s the latter, the president has 60 days to seek congressional approval, and without it, has an additional 30 days to withdrawal.
On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worked together to launch a large-scale attack on Iran. He notified Congress within 48 hours.
It’s been more than 60 days, and the conflict continues, though the countries are currently in a ceasefire.
Former Rep. David Price, a Democrat from Chapel Hill, is among the 63 people who wrote to the Armed Services committee leaders. He represented North Carolina for 17 terms in the House before retiring in 2022. He is now professor emeritus of political science at Duke University.
Costs of war in Iran
The former lawmakers wrote in their letter that they were “united in their belief that Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority to determine whether and how this nation engages in armed conflict, including in the current conflict in Iran.”
The letter reminds the committee members that the war in Iran led to:
- 13 Americans killed;
- more than 200 Americans wounded;
- over 1,300 Iranian civilians killed;
- $11.3 billion in costs in the first six days;
- an estimated $2 billion in costs per day;
- and a budget request of $200 billion.
The letter writers acknowledge that other presidents, including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, helped erode congressional authority due to military action they took in Libya and Yugoslavia, respectively.
“Reasserting Article I authority is not about one president or one party,” the letter states. “It is about restoring the constitutional balance that protects our democracy, our national security, and our troops. We urge members of Congress to meet this responsibility by insisting on adherence to the War Powers Resolution as the governing framework for this conflict.”
They also reminded the lawmakers that the rationale for attacking Iran continues to change.
They asked: “What are the strategic objectives of this conflict, and what constitutes success” and “what are the limits — geographic, operational, and temporal — of U.S. involvement?”
They also pointed to Trump’s rhetoric that “a whole civilization could die” or that the U.S. could “blow up the whole country” while at other times he focused only on getting rid of Iran’s missle capabilities.
“Without clear answers, policymakers cannot exercise meaningful oversight or properly assess the risks involved,” they wrote. “This lack of clarity not only undermines democratic accountability, but also increases the risk of miscalculation, escalation, and open-ended military engagement.”
The letter writers say that the War Powers Resolution is the “strongest example of Congress reasserting its war power authorities,” but said it “often falls short.”
They said it’s too ambiguous on “what constitutes hostilities and lacks clear enforcement mechanisms.”
They urged Congress to close any loopholes and make needed reforms.
“At this moment of heightened risk and uncertainty, Congress has both the obligation and the opportunity to reaffirm its role in matters of war and peace,” they wrote. “Doing so will help restore the balance of powers that underpins our system of government.”
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That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and supporting local journalism.
Be kind to each other. If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "NC’s David Price among ex-lawmakers urging Congress to take back war authority."
