Washington, D.C. – As President Trump visits the Middle East this week, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Maryland’s U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen—both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—today led their colleagues in demanding answers from the administration about its military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and whether the administration intends to seek Congressional approval for any future use of military force in the region.
“We remain concerned about the potential for unilateral executive action that could reengage the United States in hostilities with the Houthis. The Constitution grants Congress—not the President—the power to declare war,” the Senators warned. “Any sustained or renewed U.S. military engagement with the Houthis must comply with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, and be subject to robust congressional oversight and consultation.”
The latest letter follows a bipartisan effort led by Merkley to hold the Trump Administration accountable for U.S. military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen—which report after report found to be costly and of limited success in reducing the Houthi arsenal. While these strikes remain paused, hostilities could restart at any time, posing a real risk of renewed conflict without appropriate compliance with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.
The Senators demanded, “Accordingly, we request a full explanation of your administration’s legal rationale, strategic objectives, and anticipated costs associated with past operations in Yemen. Additionally, we seek clarification on whether there is any formal agreement with the Houthis or other parties governing the current pause in hostilities, and what measures your administration is taking to ensure continued de-escalation.”
In addition to Merkley and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:
Dear President Trump,
We write regarding recent U.S. military operations against the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, in Yemen, and the apparent pause in hostilities now underway.
We welcome news of what appears to be a de facto truce between the United States and the Houthis. This pause in hostilities is a positive development and provides an opportunity to reassess U.S. policy in the region. However, hostilities could restart at any time, posing a real risk of renewed conflict without appropriate congressional consultation or authorization.
We remain concerned about the potential for unilateral executive action that could reengage the United States in hostilities with the Houthis. The Constitution grants Congress—not the President—the power to declare war. Any sustained or renewed U.S. military engagement with the Houthis must comply with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, and be subject to robust congressional oversight and consultation.
Accordingly, we request a full explanation of your administration’s legal rationale, strategic objectives, and anticipated costs associated with past operations in Yemen. Additionally, we seek clarification on whether there is any formal agreement with the Houthis or other parties governing the current pause in hostilities, and what measures your administration is taking to ensure continued de-escalation.
We remain committed to protecting U.S. military personnel and freedom of navigation. At the same time, we will continue to assert that Congress retains its constitutional prerogative to debate and, if necessary, enact a War Powers Resolution should U.S. military strikes resume without proper congressional consultation and authorization.
In light of ongoing uncertainty and the potential for renewed conflict, we respectfully request a classified briefing with your staff no later than May 22 to better understand your administration’s approach and objectives in Yemen and the Red Sea region. We also seek clarity on whether you intend to comply with the War Powers Resolution and the Constitution’s requirement that Congress declare war or provide specific statutory authorization for the use of military force.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.
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