The recent news that President Trump has ordered a reduction of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan is one that should be greeted with open arms by Americans. The action taken by the White House should bring a debate to reexamine the existing authorizations for the use of military force in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Passed in 2001 and 2002, respectively, the two existing authorizations for the use of military force for Afghanistan and Iraq have been read broadly by Republican and Democratic administrations to justify military action, including airstrikes or operations, in more than a dozen countries in which Congress never specifically authorized any military action. These authorizations have functioned as a blank check to the executive branch. Congress has rarely pushed back.