Congress Moves to End 'Forever Wars': All Existing Military Authorizations to Expire in 6 Months

The “Accountability for Endless Wars Act of 2025” is a piece of legislation that aims to put a firm expiration date on military conflicts, forcing Congress to actively review and reauthorize the use of force instead of letting authorizations linger indefinitely. This bill targets the problem of ‘forever wars’ by setting strict, mandatory sunset provisions on when and how long the U.S. can use military force.

The New Clock on War Powers

If this bill becomes law, it immediately changes the rules for future military engagements. Any new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or formal declaration of war passed by Congress will automatically expire after 10 years (Sec. 2). Think of it like a 10-year lease agreement on military action; Congress can renew it, but they have to vote on it again when the time is up. This is a big deal because, historically, AUMFs have been treated more like perpetual licenses, allowing presidents years or even decades later to use them for conflicts far removed from the original intent.

The 6-Month Deadline for Current Conflicts

Here’s the part that hits the hardest and fastest: the bill mandates that all existing AUMFs and declarations of war passed before this law takes effect will automatically terminate just six months after the bill is signed (Sec. 2). For the average person, this means that military actions currently being conducted under authorizations passed years ago—some dating back decades—will have to be explicitly re-voted on and re-approved by Congress within half a year. If Congress doesn't act, those specific military operations lose their legal basis.

Why This Matters for the Rest of Us

This legislation is essentially an attempt to restore the Constitutional balance of power, forcing Congress—the branch closest to the people—to take responsibility for decisions about war and peace. For taxpayers, this means a chance to stop funding military engagements that might be running on autopilot simply because no one ever got around to canceling the original authorization. For military families, it means that ongoing deployments and missions must be regularly justified and debated, rather than continuing indefinitely in the background of national policy.

However, the short 6-month deadline for existing authorizations does create a challenge. The military and intelligence agencies rely on these current AUMFs for ongoing counter-terrorism operations. While the goal is accountability, a six-month fuse means Congress will face immense pressure to quickly review and re-authorize complex, sensitive operations. If they drop the ball, it could create temporary operational uncertainty for the Executive Branch and those military personnel currently deployed, underscoring the need for Congress to be prepared to act swiftly and decisively once this bill is enacted.