Resolution on United States Military Conflict with Islamic Republic of Iran

WHEREAS, on February 28, 2026 President Donald Trump initiated major combat operations against the country of Iran, with his administration giving differing timeline estimates, goals, and justifications in the days since;

WHEREAS, Trump told the American people in his announcement initiating the conflict that he expects there may be American casualties and the Pentagon has since confirmed that 12 service members have been killed with over 200 wounded in the first 16 days of warfare;

WHEREAS, Trump has flippantly said more service members will likely die as a result of the war and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has repeatedly stated that Trump refuses to rule out putting American troops on the ground in Iran, contrary to the vision he sold to voters of himself as a ‘pro-peace’ politician;

WHEREAS, Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution;

WHEREAS, Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center and a former staunch Trump supporter, resigned  on 3/17/2026 saying "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby";

WHEREAS, nearly 30 members of Congress have called for an investigation into reports that US military leaders have used biblical motivations to justify the war to subordinates, with some reportedly having invoked “religious prophecy and apocalyptic theology” in statements to other enlisted personnel;

WHEREAS, Republicans cut healthcare subsidies last year in an effort to reduce federal spending, but appear to have no problem approving military expenses;

WHEREAS, this administration has failed on its pledges to bring down costs for families and households while throwing money at a military now involved in a distant conflict, the joining of which flies against the advice of top officials within our armed forces;

WHEREAS, Donald Trump has shown willingness to use Presidential veto power against a War Powers resolution passed by both houses of Congress, demonstrated by his last administration’s response to Congress’ attempt to block military assistance to Saudi Arabia for their part in the Yemen Civil War;

WHEREAS, history shows that U.S. Presidents tend to only be successfully pressured to conclude armed conflicts they’ve advocated for continuing when Congress leverages the power of the purse over them;

WHEREAS, the President has framed critics of the conflict with Iran as being “traitorous” while threatening the licenses of broadcasters for their coverage not being favorable enough, as he simultaneously calls on Congress to renew his unlimited ability to spy on Americans through an authorization extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act;

WHEREAS, critics of the initially popular Iraq and Afghanistan wars spent the Bush era being depicted as unpatriotic, terrorist-enabling obstructionists, only to be proven correct about U.S. involvement as years of casualties and troop “surges” passed by; and

WHEREAS, polls show the current war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran is one of the most unpopular military operations in modern American history;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Humboldt County Democrats call for Congress to use their power to legislatively obstruct all supplemental dollars for the war, utilizing filibusters where a need arises;

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that Humboldt County Democrats call on Congress to vote against an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that lacks serious accountability mechanisms for violations of Americans’ right to privacy per the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

Adopted by HCDCC on 3/21/2026