IAVA Statement on Congress Voting to Maintain Status Quo on Military Operations in Iran.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
March 5, 2026
CONTACT: Jerritt Lynn 
(425) 599-5570 | press@iava.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the 119th Congress rejected a War Powers resolution that aimed to enhance Congressional oversight of the executive branch’s authority to carry out unilateral military actions in Iran.

While the executive has legal authority under the War Powers Act (1970) to conduct limited military operations, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) members remain concerned about our national security and the possibility of re-entering conflict overseas. IAVA urges stronger Congressional oversight in how the U.S. military is used as an instrument of national power.

This sentiment goes beyond political parties and administrations. Our veterans call for increased oversight of military engagements. 

Our members, who have served across generations and around the world, veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Vietnam, and many others, know all too well the cost of war. That is why they support increased Congressional involvement. Not to hinder a political party, but to guarantee thoughtful engagement by elected officials whose job is to represent their constituents.

A few statistics to keep in mind, as we, the citizenry, reflect on the current military operations in Iran and the recent costs of war:

• $1.79 trillion spent by the U.S. government on the war in Iraq and related operations through 2023.
• $2 trillion spent by the United States on the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2019.
• More than 4 million Americans have served in the post-9/11 wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, and related operations).
• $2.2–$2.5 trillion projected cost for lifetime disability benefits and medical care for post-9/11 veterans through 2050.
• 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, which averages about 17.5 veteran suicides per day.
• In March 2025, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified to Congress that military readiness has declined over the past two decades of war.

IAVA remains committed to ensuring that the voices and experiences of veterans inform the nation’s decisions about war and peace. Just as we recently celebrated the repeal of the outdated Iraq AUMFs, we now find ourselves facing the prospect of another conflict without clearly defined objectives or an end goal in sight. For the sake of our service members and their families, our veterans, and the nation as a whole, we urge Congress to fully exercise its constitutional responsibility and provide meaningful oversight of military operations. Veterans understand the true cost of war, and we call on Congress to carefully consider the implications of expanded war authority and ensure that any use of force is deliberate, transparent, and accountable to the American people.

About IAVA 
IAVA stands at the center of people, policy, and institutions to ensure that the lived experience of post-9/11 veterans is heard, measured, and acted on. We turn the experiences of post-9/11 veterans into evidence, use that evidence to shape policy, and work with institutions that serve veterans to ensure that policies become real in veterans’ lives. By convening veterans, researchers, and decision-makers, IAVA drives the changes needed to ensure America serves the newest generation of veterans. 

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