Members of Congress should vote against any additional funding for President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional war on Iran, 251 groups said today. letter Sent to Congress. Waging a war of choice that costs an estimated $1 billion a day not only fails to address the economic pressures and health care crisis facing Americans, it diverts federal funding from a host of pressing domestic priorities. The letter was led by Public Citizen, Win Without War, MoveOn, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
“By waging war against Iran, Trump violated the Constitution, defied international law, flouted the will of the American people, and endangered the lives of millions across the region,” the letter said. “A vote on President Trump’s supplemental funding package for the Pentagon would be a vote to further commit the United States to this crisis, which has already claimed the lives of seven American soldiers and nearly 2,000 people from across the region, and which puts the lives of many more at risk.”
The total Pentagon budget now stands at more than $1 trillion, after an additional $150 billion the agency received in the reconciliation bill introduced by the Republican Party. An additional $50 billion would be enough to restore food aid to four million Americans, establish a universal pre-K education system, and pay for the annual construction of more than 100,000 housing units. These groups assert that this illegal war with Iran cannot be an excuse to fund more weapons instead of priorities here at home.
Other notable signatories to the letter include Oxfam America, Service Employees International Union, National Nurses Federation, Council on American-Islamic Relations, National Organization for Women, Union of Concerned Scientists, J Street, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Indivisible, Common Cause, Jewish Voice for Peace, Rising Majority, and Working Families Power.
“More money for the Pentagon will expand and escalate a destructive, illegal, and unpopular war — as well as pave the way for more funding requests from the Pentagon.” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “The money wasted in this war should instead be invested in addressing the economic pressures felt by ordinary Americans. The $11.3 billion spent in the first six days of the war, for example, would be enough to restore food benefits to four million people lost to the tax and budget reconciliation bill.”
“President Trump’s illegal war has already demonstrated the costs that war imposes – US service members killed and wounded, thousands of civilians dying in combat, skyrocketing oil prices, a conflict escalating in more than a dozen countries in unforeseen ways, and more. For exactly this reason, it is critical that the decision to go to war does not depend on the motives of one person. Congress must not fund the continuation of this unconstitutional war.” said Christopher Anders, director of the ACLU’s Technology and Democracy Division.
“Every penny wasted on bombing children and families in Iran could be better spent on health care and affordable housing in America. Secretary Hegseth and President Trump are willing to spend trillions on another war in perpetuity that no one asked for, but they won’t lift a finger to cut costs here at home.” said Sarah Haqousti, chief program officer at MoveOn Civic Action. He added: “A vote for additional spending is a vote to continue the war in Iran, and Congress must listen to the vast majority of Americans and stop reckless spending and bloodshed.”
“People across the United States already hate Trump’s illegal war in Iran, and they wouldn’t like it any more if Congress wasted an additional $50 billion of their money on it.” said Shaina Lewis, Deputy Director of Winning Without War. “It is outrageous that Trump is asking for more money to spend on bombs while his escalating war is killing civilians abroad and raising prices for everyone at home, all with no end in sight. Congress should tell Trump clearly: Not one more penny for this senseless and destructive war.”
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