Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has joined a group of House Democrats in sponsoring a resolution that would compel House Speaker Mike Johnson to sue the Trump administration. The lawsuit would challenge the legality of U.S. military actions in the Middle East, specifically citing alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
Massie accused President Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth of violating two sections of the War Powers Resolution. He stated that a concurrent resolution passed in accordance with section 5(c) of the law has been ignored by the White House. Massie believes that the time has come for the courts to resolve the legal questions surrounding the resolution, a stance his new legislation aims to facilitate.
"It’s time for the courts to settle this, and that’s what our legislation directs," Massie said. He also pointed to alleged violations of section 5(b), arguing that the administration’s practice of restarting the 60-day limit on presidential military activity through temporary ceasefires is an invalid interpretation of the law.
The resolution is led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and includes co-sponsors Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., Gabe Amo, D-R.I., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif.
Massie was among four House Republicans who voted with Democrats last week on a symbolic war powers resolution to rebuke Trump over the Iran conflict. This action followed his primary challenge, which was backed by the president, and resulted in his defeat. Despite this, Massie continues to criticize congressional leadership for what he views as inaction on constitutional war powers.
"Speaker Johnson has chosen to let the power of our institution atrophy and is doing harm to our constitutional authority by his inaction motivated by political expediency," Massie stated. He added that unlike previous authorizations for military force for conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Trump administration has not sought congressional authorization for the war in Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, has indicated that he does not believe a new Authorization for Use of Military Force is currently necessary, but expressed a desire for the conflict to be resolved. "The administration is working very hard. The commander in chief and the whole Department of War, they're working very hard to bring this to a resolution," Johnson told reporters recently. "We're all closely watching those developments."