The Steady State
Statement Following U.S. Bombing of Iran
The Steady State
Statement Following U.S. Bombing of Iran
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2025
The Steady State views with grave concern the recent decision by the Trump administration to bomb targets in Iran in response to escalating tensions with Iran and its proxies. This moment demands clarity not only about the action itself but about the process—and legitimacy—of presidential war-making in a constitutional democracy.
(1) A Stopped Clock Moment—Still the Wrong Timepiece
There is an old adage that a stopped clock is right twice a day. It is possible—perhaps even likely—that Iran’s actions warranted a strong U.S. response. But even if this particular decision is substantively defensible, the manner in which it was reached is not.
In a constitutional republic, it is not enough for a president to be right. He must be right for the right reasons, through the right process, and with the right institutions engaged. That is what earns not just short-term results, but long-term trust—domestically and globally.
(2) A Breakdown in Constitutional War Powers
In a healthy constitutional democracy, decisions regarding the use of military force—particularly those that risk regional war or global instability—must be grounded in legitimate, deliberative, and consultative processes. These include meaningful engagement with Congress, full-spectrum intelligence assessment, interagency coordination, and transparent communication with the American people. Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, those mechanisms have not merely atrophied—they have been actively eroded and, in some cases, destroyed.
We are left with a presidency unmoored from institutional constraints, a national security apparatus bypassed rather than activated, senior advisors who are inexperienced and unqualified, and a Congress too often relegated to the role of spectator. This diminishes not just the quality of decision-making, but the democratic legitimacy of the decisions themselves.
Article I, Section 8 of our Constitution specifically assigns to Congress, not the President, the power to declare war. Reports that, to the extent Congress was even notified in advance of the attack, only Republicans were notified, is deeply concerning, as it contributes to, and is emblematic of, President Trump’s increasingly partisan approach to national security, where “partisan” seems to mean “loyal to Trump.”
(3) Eroded Defenses Against Retaliation
The Trump administration has not only ignored the systems that ensure lawful and measured military action—it has undermined the very capabilities that protect the United States from the consequences of such action. Through the systematic dismantling of our intelligence and law enforcement institutions, the Trump White House has weakened the nation’s ability to anticipate, disrupt, and respond to the likely—and perhaps inevitable—Iranian retaliation, particularly via asymmetric means.
These agencies—intelligence, law enforcement, diplomatic—are not luxuries. They are essential instruments of national defense. When their expertise is marginalized, their leadership politicized, and their legitimacy degraded, the American people are left less safe.
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The Steady State urges Congress, the intelligence community, and civil society to insist on a restoration of accountable war powers, rigorous intelligence oversight, and respect for the rule of law. In matters of war and peace, our system was designed for far more than the instincts of one man. Congress, in particular, must fully embrace its Constitutional role when our nation goes to war, and Americans, of both parties, must insist on rigor, honesty, and adherence to our Constitution and laws.