To a US Senator: support repeal of the 2001 AUMF

Personalize. Senators on Foreign Relations or Armed Services committees carry particular weight on this issue. Naming any specific recent operation that’s been authorized under stretched AUMF interpretations gives the letter additional concreteness.

Dear Senator {{rep_last_name}},

I’m writing as a constituent in {{my_city}}, {{my_state}} to ask you to support repeal of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, and to support a replacement framework that restores meaningful congressional war authority.

Congress has not declared war since 1942. Subsequent military actions have proceeded under AUMFs that have been used by multiple administrations far beyond their original scope. In December 2025, Congress finally repealed the 1991 Gulf War authorization and the 2002 Iraq AUMF through the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act — the first time it has clawed back a war authorization since 1971. That leaves the 2001 AUMF, passed three days after 9/11, which has been used by four administrations to justify military operations in over a dozen countries — including operations against organizations that did not exist when the AUMF was passed.

The substantive concern is structural. Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war. The pattern of stale, broadly interpreted AUMFs has effectively transferred that authority to the executive branch. With the 1991 and 2002 authorizations now repealed, the reform agenda that remains:

1. Repeal or replace the 2001 AUMF with a framework that includes specific named target organizations, geographic limits, sunset provisions, and substantial reporting requirements. The Kaine-Young replacement framework in recent sessions provides a working template.

2. Modernize the War Powers Resolution with stronger introduction-of-hostilities definitions, expedited withdrawal procedures, and clear sunset provisions on use of force.

3. Substantially expand reporting requirements on military operations, civilian casualties, target lists, and strategic objectives.

The political coalition for AUMF reform has been bipartisan in recent sessions. Senators Tim Kaine and Todd Young led the effort, and the December 2025 repeal of the 1991 and 2002 authorizations showed that the coalition can deliver. The 2001 AUMF repeal has been harder because it requires a replacement framework — but the substantive work on the replacement framework has been done.

[Personalize: name any specific concern. Examples: “I served / have family who served in [specific operation]”; “Our state has been affected by [deployment pattern]”; “I’m a constituent who pays attention to foreign policy and watches the AUMF debates”; “I work in [field that intersects foreign policy] and have direct concern about the structural pattern”.]

I’d appreciate knowing your position on AUMF repeal and on the broader War Powers reform agenda.

Thank you for your service.

Sincerely,

[Your name] [Your address]