STATEMENT: Gottheimer Votes to Pass War Powers Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, March 5, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement:

"First, I want to be clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the enemy and a tyrannical regime, and I completely support the decisive action our armed forces took last weekend to diminish those threats, including killing the Ayatollah, who brutally slaughtered scores of Americans and thousands of his own people. Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terror. Its ballistic missile and drone programs, nuclear ambitions, and terrorist proxies continue to pose a clear and present danger to the United States and our allies. For the sake of freedom and democracy in the world, we simply can't afford to get this wrong - we must win and crush them.

I want to recognize and emphasize the extraordinary courage of our service members who continue to put themselves in harm's way, along with those in our diplomatic core, and I pray for the families of the six soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. May their memories be a blessing.

With the defeat of the War Powers Resolution in the Senate, the vote in the house today shifted from an unacceptable call that could put our troops in harm's way to a clear call for this Administration to articulate the goals for the mission, the end game, and their plan to avoid a protracted conflict. That is why, in the end, I chose to vote yes, and why I have proposed a second vote on a new War Powers Resolution at the end of March, which will give the Administration a clear deadline for communicating their mission and objectives to Congress and the American people.

Unlike some of my colleagues who are opposed to combatting the Iranian regime, the world's leading state sponsor of terror, I'm supporting this resolution to send a clear message to the Administration: the American people deserve a coherent explanation of what precipitated this war, what success looks like, and how we will know when the mission has been achieved.

So far, what I have heard publicly and in classified briefings are shifting justifications and objectives from Administration officials and the President. I still have questions that remain unanswered and other issues that require more clarity. Oversight will be critical during these coming weeks, especially on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, of which I'm a member.

Congress deserves, per the law, regular briefings as the conflict continues - about the potential length of the conflict, the possibility of committing ground troops, the ongoing and projected tax dollar expenditures, and the scenarios for long-term governance and stability of Iran. As it stands, Jersey has no appetite for ground troops and or an endless war.

Oversight is the constitutional responsibility of Congress, and moments like this are exactly why the framers divided such powers. The Administration must appear before the relevant committees to paint a clear picture, so the American people can understand this mission's goals, strategy, and our path forward.

Again, make no mistake: the Iranian regime, with its 'Death to America' cry, is our sworn enemy and deserves the punishment they're receiving. For decades Ayatollah Khamenei and his oppressive regime have supported terrorist proxies, expanded their ballistic missile program, attacked our bases, and killed scores of Americans and our allies, not to mention their own citizens seeking freedom. In the last days, they've launched attacks on nearly every country in the region.

As I've said, I'm not opposed to taking action against Iran. I believe that steps to address the persistent threats are merited and necessary to protect our broader national security interests. I will also ensure that our military is equipped to meet that mission.

During the week of March 23, 2026, we will also have another vote on my War Powers Resolution to uphold Congress's constitutional authority, while ensuring the United States can continue to defend our service members, embassies, and allies from Iranian aggression. Between now and then, I hope either the conflict has reached its objectives or the Administration has made a strong case to Congress and the American people for why this mission must continue. In the meantime, let's pray for the troops, allies, and all Americans in harm's way.

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