Comment on House Repeal of War Powers Authority, Known as AUMF

WASHINGTON — In a bipartisan vote, the House voted to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force, which Congress passed to authorize war against Iraq almost 20 years ago.

Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, said:

“This is a belated but very welcome step in ending one of the bases for this country’s forever wars. For years, successive administrations relied on the 2002 AUMF to justify lethal force and detention far beyond Congress’s original purpose of authorizing force against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. Repealing this outdated and unnecessary statute is a first step in restoring Congress’s essential role in exercising what should be limited and exceptional war authority.”