Veterans for Common Sense Fact Sheet — Zombie AUMFs: Legacy War Authorizations Linger [PDF]
Zombie AUMFs: Legacy War Authorizations Linger
Concerns over broad scope, lack of sunset, constitutional war power
What are AUMFs?
An Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) is a joint resolution passed by Congress that authorizes the President to use military force. While essential in times of conflict, legacy “open-ended” AUMFs lack specific expiration dates or narrow scopes, leading to ongoing debate about their continued relevance and potential for misuse.
The Four AUMFs Targeted for Repeal
These four AUMFs have been a focus of legislative efforts due to their broad, indefinite nature:
1) AUMF Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 Oct. 16, 2002
- Statutory Reference: Public Law 107-243 (116 Stat. 1498); 50 U.S.C. 1541 note
- Purpose: Authorized military force to defend U.S. national security against the Iraqi threat and enforce UN resolutions regarding Iraq.
- Controversy: Originally aimed at Saddam Hussein’s regime, its open-ended language about the “continuing threat posed by Iraq” has been debated as potentially justifying actions against various groups in Iraq long after the 2003 invasion.
2) Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) of 2001 Sep. 18, 2001
- Statutory Reference: Public Law 107-40 (115 Stat. 224); 50 U.S.C. 1541 note
- Purpose: Enacted post-9/11 attacks to target those responsible and prevent future terrorism.
- Controversy: Interpreted broadly by administrations to justify military actions against a wide array of terrorist groups and “associated forces” across numerous countries, far beyond the initial scope of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
3) AUMF Against Iraq Resolution Jan. 16, 1991
- Statutory Reference: Public Law 102-1 (105 Stat. 3, as amended by Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, §207], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536 , 1501A-422); 50 U.S.C. 1541 note
- Purpose: Authorized military force against Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 678.
- Controversy: Though its primary purpose was fulfilled decades ago with the end of the Gulf War, it remains open-ended, raising concerns about its potential for future, unintended application.
4) Joint Resolution to Promote Peace and Stability in the Middle East Mar. 9, 1957
- Statutory Reference: Public Law 85-7 (71 Stat. 5); 22 U.S.C. 1961
- Purpose: Authorized the President to provide military assistance and use armed forces to assist Middle Eastern nations requesting aid against “armed aggression from any country controlled by international communism.”
- Controversy: A Cold War-era authorization, it’s considered open-ended due to its broad geographic scope (“general area of the Middle East”) and its focus on an ideological threat rather than a specific enemy or timeframe.
Why Repeal Matters:
Repealing these open-ended AUMFs aims to:
- Reassert Congressional Authority: Reclaim the constitutional sole power of Congress to declare war.
- Limit Executive Power: Prevent future presidents from unilaterally engaging in military actions based on decades-old authorizations.
- Promote Accountability: Ensure that any future military engagements are debated and approved by Congress, reflecting current threats and national interests.
Veterans for Common Sense is a nonpartisan non-profit organization founded in 2002 by U.S. war veterans who honorably served our nation. Its principal purpose is to collect, analyze, and disseminate information relevant to U.S. foreign and military policy for the use of the public in better decision making. Veterans for Common Sense derived its name from the seminal “Common Sense” pamphlet advocating for American independence authored by Founding Father Thomas Paine in 1776.
Last updated June 24, 2025
