Rep. Roy Celebrates the Repeal of the 1991, 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) in Final NDAA

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, which included a repeal of the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) related to Iraq.

"I have long pushed for Article I to take back its constitutional responsibility to authorize and end war declarations, rather than leaving outdated authorizations on the books - sometimes for decades - that no longer reflect current realities.

That effort has now produced real results.

As part of negotiations on the National Defense Authorization Act, I worked directly with Congressman Gregory Meeks and former Congresswoman Barbara Lee to secure the full repeal of the outdated and misused 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

This repeal was not symbolic. It was the result of sustained pressure and a firm insistence that Congress stop outsourcing its war powers, avoiding its responsibilities under Article I of the Constitution.

These authorizations were written for clearly defined conflicts, aimed at a single regime, during a distinct period in history. Saddam Hussein is long gone, yet these AUMFs have remained on the books - not because they are still necessary to our national security, but because Congress has lacked the courage to formally repeal them.

Securing the passage of this amendment corrects this long-standing failure and sends a clear signal that the legislative branch is finally reclaiming its authority over decisions of war and peace. The era of endless, undefined war authorizations must end."