Ranking Members Meeks, Smith, Himes, and Thompson Introduce War Powers Resolution to End Trump’s Illegal Boat Strikes
(WASHINGTON) – Marking one year since the Trump administration’s first boat strike, Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee; Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Jim Himes (D-CN), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced a War Powers Resolution today to block the administration from continuing to use U.S. Armed Forces to conduct strikes in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.
“One year ago today, the Trump administration launched a campaign of extrajudicial killings, using the U.S. military and taxpayer dollars to execute at least 227 individuals without due process or a credible national-security justification. The administration calls this counternarcotics. However, it remains unclear whether these operations have made any real difference in stemming the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, and they were never authorized by Congress. A year later, the administration has little to show for this lawless campaign except a mounting body count, a massive price tag, and a stain on the American conscience.
“The lack of transparency on behalf of this administration and DoD to not meaningfully inform Congress of the use of lethal military force is staggering. It is especially troubling given the strong bipartisan agreement that the flow of illegal narcotics into the U.S. poses a serious risk to the health and well-being of Americans that demands government action. But that action should be taken legally with law enforcement in the lead.
“Time and again, this administration has refused to use the military responsibly or consult with Congress, even though the American people have made clear they do not want their tax dollars being spent on more endless military campaigns. It’s time for this failed campaign to end. The War Powers Resolution we’ve introduced today would end the Trump administration’s unauthorized military campaign, check the president’s overreach, and reclaim Congress’s constitutional authority over the use of military force.”
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