Letter to Congress: Exercise of Congressional War Powers Authority
290 Senior National Security Veterans Call on Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2025
Letter to Congress: Exercise of Congressional War Powers Authority
290 Senior National Security Veterans Call on Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Steady State, a nonpartisan network of more than 290 national security professionals, today transmitted a letter to Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voicing strong support for pending resolutions in both chambers reaffirming Congress’s constitutional authority over matters of war and peace.
The letter underscores that, consistent with Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress holds the power to declare war. Citing the vision of the Founding Fathers and the principles embedded in the Federalist Papers and the War Powers Act of 1973, the Steady State warns that the nation’s decision-making architecture has been dangerously undermined.
“Even if the recent U.S. military strike in Iran was tactically justifiable,” the letter states, “its legitimacy is fundamentally weakened by the absence of congressional consultation, the exclusion of minority party leaders from pre-action notification, and the general breakdown in transparency and accountability that should define the gravest of national decisions.”
“When America goes to war, it does so as a democracy, not at the whim or wish of a king or emperor – Congress can and should act to make that clear…” said Steven Cash, Executive Director of The Steady State, “as veterans of the CIA, State Department and other government agencies, we have seen first hand the perils of vesting the power to wage war in one man.”
The Steady State calls on all Members of Congress—Democrats, Republicans, and independents—to support the pending resolutions and to reclaim their constitutional role. “Our system was designed for shared responsibility,” the letter concludes. “Our security depends on it.”
At 4:00 p.m. ET today, The Steady State’s Executive Director, Steven Cash, will host a brief, on-the-record “Quick Hit” virtual press availability to discuss the letter and answer questions from members of the media.
A full copy of the letter is attached and available at LINK