Troop deployment into American cities without Congress’ approval is dangerous
Across the country, the president is deploying troops into cities without approval from Congress and in many cases without permission from mayors or governors or support from the people.
Our troops are being put into impossible situations while our elected officials stand by and watch. The key thing is: Members of Congress have the power to stop this presidential overreach… if we demand it from them.
Presidents cannot and should not be trusted with the power of deploying the military against its citizenry without real constitutional justification.
– Jamie Barnett, Rear Admiral, USN (Retired)
The Constitution is clear
Under the Constitution, Congress, not the president, decides when America goes to war and when troops are deployed (Article I, Section 8, Clauses 11 & 15).
Congress later delegated some emergency powers to the Executive Branch in legislation, and for decades presidents of both parties have tested those limits, stretching “emergency powers” to justify deploying troops abroad and now in our own communities.
Deploying U.S. troops is one of the most serious decisions our government can make. In a healthy democracy and under our Constitution, it should be up to Congress, the people’s branch, to decide if that’s really needed, not one person.
I go through days without being able to talk with my husband, so that’s a lot of stress on the spouse and family because my 3-year-old doesn’t get what’s going on. He just sees dad’s gone, where’s dad, so it’s a constant stressor.
– “Sarah”, spouse of an Oregon National Guard Member
It’s time for Congress to show courage and stand with us
Enough is enough. We’re calling on Members of Congress to:
- Hold the executive branch accountable
- Reclaim Congress’s constitutional power over military deployment and war
- Require congressional approval for any deployment lasting more than 14 days
- Stand up and do what’s right for the people you represent