Why Congress Must Push Back on Unauthorized Strikes

New reporting confirms that the United States carried out a series of deadly strikes in international waters on September 2. The White House now says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved multiple strikes on a vessel that left Venezuela. According to the Washington Post, two men survived the first blast and were holding onto debris. The Post reports that a second strike was ordered with the intention of killing the survivors, and officials believe this order came directly from Hegseth. [1]

This raises serious concerns under both United States law and international law.

The War Powers Resolution was ignored

The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within forty-eight hours when military force is used without approval. After that, a sixty-day clock begins. If Congress does not authorize the operation, it must end. [2]

The Trump administration passed the sixty-day limit months ago. By mid-November, it had carried out at least twenty-one strikes with no authorization from Congress. [3]

This is a direct violation of the law.

The second strike appears to violate international law

International humanitarian law protects people who are wounded or shipwrecked. They cannot be attacked under any circumstances. The Geneva Conventions require rescue and protection. [4]

The United States Law of War Manual states that attacking survivors is inhumane and a grave breach of the law of armed conflict. [5]

Experts at Just Security explain that a second strike on survivors is clearly unlawful and violates both the law of armed conflict and human rights law. They also warn that United States service members cannot use a superior orders defense when the order is obviously illegal. [6]

Congress has tools, but it has not used them

Some lawmakers attempted to intervene. Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul introduced War Powers Resolutions to stop the strikes. The Senate did not pass them. [7]

House leaders introduced a resolution stating that these strikes were unauthorized and unlawful. The House has not brought it to a vote. [8]

Representative Jake Auchincloss stated that killing survivors in the water would be a war crime and called on Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority. [9] Source: Newton Beacon.

Why this matters now

Killing survivors in the water is not a gray area. Continuing strikes without approval is not a gray area.

Congress must act to uphold the Constitution and to protect United States service members from illegal orders. Kentuckians deserve leaders who respect the rule of law and basic human decency.

If you believe the United States should follow the Constitution and international law, and if you want real oversight instead of unchecked violence in our name, join our campaign today. Kentucky deserves leadership that tells the truth, stands up for our values, and fights for accountability.