WASHINGTON (FN) — In a rare show of bipartisan unity, the U.S. Senate voted 77–20 to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), long‑standing measures that provided the legal basis for the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The move, embedded in the annual defense bill, marks a significant recalibration of America’s war powers and a symbolic end to decades of military entanglement in Iraq.
For years, critics referred to the authorizations as “zombie laws” — statutes that remained on the books long after their original purpose had expired. Successive administrations invoked them to justify military operations far beyond their intent, including campaigns against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Lawmakers argued that leaving them in place perpetuated open‑ended conflicts without fresh congressional debate.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia and a longtime advocate for repeal, hailed the vote as “a historic step toward restoring Congress’s constitutional role in matters of war and peace.” He added, “For too long, presidents of both parties have leaned on outdated authorizations to conduct military operations without accountability. Today, we are saying enough.”
Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana echoed that sentiment, underscoring the bipartisan nature of the measure. “This is not about tying the hands of our commanders in the field,” Young said. “It’s about ensuring that when America goes to war, it does so with the full backing of the people’s representatives.”
The 1991 AUMF was passed to authorize U.S. military action against Iraq after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. More than a decade later, the 2002 AUMF cleared the way for the U.S.‑led invasion of Iraq, toppling Hussein’s regime but plunging the region into years of instability. Both authorizations remained active, even as U.S. combat operations in Iraq formally ended in 2011.
In practice, presidents from George W. Bush to Donald Trump cited the 2002 AUMF to justify military strikes against terrorist groups, including ISIS. President Barack Obama relied on it to defend operations in Iraq and Syria, while Trump used it to rationalize the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Critics said such uses stretched the law far beyond its original scope.
The repeal does not affect the 2001 AUMF, passed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, which continues to underpin U.S. counterterrorism operations worldwide. That statute has been invoked to justify military actions in more than a dozen countries, from Afghanistan to Somalia. Lawmakers acknowledged that revisiting the 2001 authorization will be a far more contentious debate.
International observers are watching closely. Analysts say the repeal signals to allies and adversaries alike that the U.S. is recalibrating its military commitments and seeking to avoid entanglements rooted in past conflicts. “It’s a message that America is turning the page on Iraq,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a defense expert at the Brookings Institution. “But the bigger question is whether Congress will have the courage to tackle the 2001 AUMF, which is the true backbone of the global war on terror.”
The White House has expressed support for the repeal, noting that the authorizations are no longer necessary for current operations. Administration officials emphasized that U.S. forces retain the authority to defend themselves and respond to threats under existing law.
For many lawmakers, the vote was as much about symbolism as substance. “This is about accountability,” said Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky. “If we are going to send our sons and daughters into harm’s way, Congress should have the courage to debate and vote on it, not hide behind authorizations written decades ago.”
Timeline of the Iraq AUMFs:
1991 — Congress authorizes the Gulf War against Iraq after Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait.
2002 — Authorization clears the way for the U.S.‑led invasion of Iraq.
2003–2011 — Used to justify occupation and counterinsurgency campaigns.
2014 — Invoked by President Obama to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
2017–2019 — Trump administration cites it for operations against ISIS affiliates.
2020 — Trump uses it to justify the drone strike on Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
2021–2024 — Bipartisan calls for repeal intensify.
2025 — Senate votes 77–20 to repeal both authorizations, closing a chapter on America’s Iraq war powers.
