House Appropriations Committee adopts amendment to repeal AUMF

The House Appropriations Committee has voted to adopt an amendment in their markup of the Defense Appropriations Bill that would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The AUMF allows the use of the U.S. armed forces against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks and their "associated forces."

The AUMF has been used to justify U.S. action around the world to this day by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, including the downing of a Syrian military jet last week. The repeal amendment was brought by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who was the lone dissenting vote when the bill was passed in 2001; at the time, she argued the resolution "was a blank check to the president to attack anyone involved in the Sept. 11 events — anywhere, in any country, without regard to our nation's long-term foreign policy, economic and national security interests, and without time limit."

The committee's decision Thursday will require a floor debate and new vote by Congress.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up