Bipartisan Effort Seeks to Repeal 1957 Military Force Authorization
Utah Senator Mike Lee is co-leading a bipartisan effort in Congress to repeal a 1957 authorization for the use of military force in the Middle East. This measure, originally enacted to counter Soviet aggression during the Cold War, is now…
Salt Lake City, UT, July 31, 2026 —
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress is working to repeal a 1957 law that provides an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) in the Middle East. The effort is being co-led by Utah Senator Mike Lee.
The 1957 AUMF was enacted during the Cold War era, primarily to counter potential Soviet aggression in the Middle East. Proponents of its repeal argue that the measure is now outdated and no longer serves a necessary purpose.
The primary goals of this legislative push are to prevent the outdated authorization from being potentially misused to justify future military actions and to reinforce the constitutional war-making authority of Congress. Lawmakers supporting the repeal aim to ensure that any future deployment of military force receives appropriate congressional deliberation and approval.
The trend highlights a growing concern among some members of Congress regarding the executive branch’s power to engage in military operations without explicit, contemporary authorization from the legislative branch. Repealing this decades-old AUMF is seen by supporters as a step towards rebalancing these powers and ensuring greater congressional oversight of foreign military engagements.
Story summarized from the original created by Cami Mondeaux on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
Media gallery