U.S. President Joe Biden's administration said on Monday it supported an effort in the U.S. Congress to repeal the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force that allowed the war in Iraq, boosting lawmakers' push to pull back the authority to declare war from the White House.
"The administration supports the repeal of the 2002 AUMF, as the United States has no ongoing military activities that rely solely on the 2002 AUMF as a domestic legal basis, and repeal of the 2002 AUMF would likely have minimal impact on current military operations," the administration said in a policy statement.
The U.S. Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress. However, that authority has gradually shifted to the president as Congress passed AUMFs that did not expire - such as the 2002 Iraq measure, as well as one that allowed the fight against al Qaeda after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A handful of members of Congress have been pushing for years to repeal, and possibly replace, the authorizations.The administration statement said Biden is committed to working with Congress to ensure that outdated authorizations are repealed and replaced with "a narrow and specific framework" to ensure the country can continue to protect itself.
The House of Representatives is due to vote this week on the legislation to repeal the 19-year-old Iraq war authorization, which was introduced by Democratic Representative Barbara Lee. There was no immediate word on when the Senate might consider it. Lee has long sought to hold presidential military powers in check. She was the only member of Congress to oppose the AUMF passed days after the Sept. 11 attacks, saying it provided too much of a "blank check" to allow the president to pursue military action.Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
President Biden arrives at NATO for first visit as PresidentPresident Joe Biden has arrived at his first in-person North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit Monday, vowing to reaffirm the United States' commitment to a military alliance his predecessor viewed with disdain.
Read more »
French President Macron says US is 'definitely' back, welcomes Biden to 'the club'The warmth between Pres. Biden and French Pres. Emmanuel Macron was on full display on day two of the G-7 summit—with the leaders sitting down for a one-on-one beachside bilateral meeting and Macron agreeing that America is 'definitely' back.
Read more »
Pulse nightclub to become a national memorial, says President BidenOn the fifth anniversary of the mass shooting at Pulse, President Joe Biden says the site of the deadly attack will become a national memorial.
Read more »
Joe Biden was corrected by Boris Johnson after the president interrupted him at the G7 summitBusiness Insider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
President Biden and first lady are meeting with the Queen inside Windsor CastleWorld leaders gathering in the UK for the final day of the G7 summit. US President Joe Biden will also meet with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle. Follow here for the latest.
Read more »
President Biden Will Sign a Bill Naming the Pulse Nightclub a National MemorialThere's also much work to be done to combat gun violence.
Read more »