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Lawmaker from New York delegation says Congress was not properly informed of strikes, cites constitutional role
Summary
A lawmaker said members of the New York delegation were not given substantive information by the administration before recent strikes, that House leadership received notice only about an hour beforehand, and argued the Constitution requires Congress, not the president alone, to declare war.
A lawmaker from the New York delegation said they and other members were left "very concerned" after recent strikes and that the White House did not provide adequate information in advance. The lawmaker said even House leadership was notified only about an hour before the strikes.
The lawmaker said the administration "has not been given a lot of information" and that "even Leader Jeff ... did not get any notification until an hour before the strikes took place," adding that the day before a Gang of Eight meeting, Leader Jeff indicated he had no information about any imminent threat from Iran.
"There has not been any justification ... for the act ... of going to war ... without coming to Congress first as the constitution demands," the lawmaker said, invoking Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and pressing the need for congressional consultation or explanation.
The transcript records only the question and the lawmaker's response; it does not include an administration reply or any formal action by Congress. The remarks in the transcript focus on concerns about executive communication and the constitutional division of war powers. No votes, motions, or formal directives were recorded in the provided segment.
The lawmaker's comments underscore tensions between Congress and the executive branch over oversight and notification in matters involving the use of military force. The transcript does not record any immediate follow-up steps or a formal resolution arising from the exchange.
