On Friday morning, the Biden administration came under fire from fellow Democrats after American and British forces launched strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The strikes, which were carried out in response to over two dozen attacks against ships off Yemen, were met with criticism from Democrats who argued that they were a violation of the Constitution. Many of these lawmakers cited Article I of the Constitution, which gives Congress the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts.
Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri took to social media to express her disapproval of the strikes, stating, “@POTUS can’t launch airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. This is illegal and violates Article I of the Constitution. The people do not want more of our taxpayer dollars going to endless war and the killing of civilians. Stop the bombing and do better by us.” Similarly, Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan tweeted, “@POTUS is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. The American people are tired of endless war.” These sentiments were echoed by other House Democrats who also referenced Article I of the Constitution and emphasized the need for congressional authorization before taking military action.
In response to the criticism, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii also spoke out against Biden, stating that the strikes had not been well thought out and did not consider the potential consequences. She added that previous decisions, such as taking the Houthis off the terrorist list and giving Iran over $6 billion, had also not been carefully considered. Gabbard’s comments were made during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
Despite the backlash, the Biden administration has not yet responded to the criticism from Democrats. The strikes were confirmed by Biden in a statement released late Thursday night. However, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California expressed his support for the Constitution and emphasized the need for congressional approval before taking military action.
He wrote, “The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another Middle East conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.”
The strikes in Yemen were carried out in response to recent attacks by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. These attacks claimed the lives of over 1,400 people, including at least 30 Americans. In addition to killing civilians, the attacks also targeted ships off the coast of Yemen. This prompted American and British forces to take action against the rebels in an effort to protect American interests and allies in the region.
Many Democrats argue that the strikes in Yemen were not authorized by Congress and therefore, were a violation of the Constitution. According to Article I of the Constitution, Congress has the sole authority to declare war and authorize military action. However, this power has been questioned and challenged throughout history, with some presidents taking military action without seeking congressional approval.
The debate over the use of military force without congressional approval is not a new one, but it has become increasingly relevant in recent years. This issue has been hotly contested by both Democrats and Republicans, with both sides arguing for the need to uphold the Constitution and limit the president’s powers when it comes to engaging in warfare.
As the Biden administration faces criticism from fellow Democrats over the strikes in Yemen, it remains to be seen how the issue of congressional authorization for military action will be addressed in the future.