Washington, D.C. – Today, US Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06) introduced a War Powers Resolution to end President Trump’s war in Iran and reassert Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war, as a top Pentagon official testified this week that the conflict has now cost American taxpayers 29 billion dollars.
💰 The cost of war
| Cost category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost to American taxpayers to date | 29 billion dollars |
| Previous estimate (two weeks ago) | 25 billion dollars |
| Increase in two weeks | 4 billion dollars |
📋 About the War Powers Resolution
The resolution would do the following:
- Reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over decisions to enter war
- Direct the administration to end unauthorized military involvement in Iran
- Force a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks, as War Powers Resolutions are privileged in the House of Representatives
🗣️ What Representative Randall said
“Yesterday, we tried again to pass a War Powers Resolution on the House floor to rein in this war that Trump has started – this war that is driving up the cost of fuel and everyday goods for the American people who are hurting – this war that the American people did not ask for – this war that was not approved by Congress,” said Rep. Randall.
“The War Powers Resolution failed 212 to 212 in a tie, but we are not giving up. In fact, today I filed my own War Powers Resolution. We will keep pushing because Republicans are coming over to this side, calling for the conflict to end, calling for the cost to go down, calling for this president to stop acting so irresponsibly on the local, domestic, and international stage.”
⚖️ Why it matters
The United States entered this conflict without a declaration of war from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to declare war. Critics say the military campaign also violates the UN Charter, as it was not authorized by the Security Council nor justified as self-defense against an armed attack.
Representative Randall represents Washington’s 6th Congressional District, which is home to:
- Naval Base Kitsap, the third largest naval base in the United States
- More than 70,000 veterans
- More than 16,000 active service members
Randall has consistently spoken out against the conflict and has voted YES on all three previous War Powers Resolutions to end the war since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.
🤝 Coordination with other lawmakers
Rep. Randall joins the efforts of Congressional Progressive Caucus members, including Reps. Sara Jacobs, Ro Khanna, Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, Maxine Dexter, John Garamendi, Chuy Garcia, Robert Garcia, and Becca Balint, who are working in coordination to force votes on ending the war in Iran.
📊 Previous votes on War Powers Resolutions
| Resolution | Randall’s vote |
|---|---|
| First War Powers Resolution | YES |
| Second War Powers Resolution | YES |
| Third War Powers Resolution | YES |
| Fourth (May 14, 2026) | Failed 212 to 212 (tie) |
| Fifth (introduced May 15, 2026) | Pending |
🔻 The bottom line
As the cost of a war critics call legally unauthorized under the UN Charter reaches 29 billion dollars, a growing coalition of lawmakers is using the War Powers Act to force Congress to vote on ending the conflict.
