WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led 17 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would stop Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to obscure how long his illegal war against Iran has lasted, dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat and hide the true cost of his disastrous war from the American people. The Senators’ Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act would ban the Secretary of Defense from manipulating casualty records and jeopardizing the benefits of our servicemembers and public servants. The bill introduction comes after the Pentagon unprecedentedly recategorized recent casualties suffered in Trump’s Iran war—including four killed and over 200 wounded servicemembers—under a separate category outside Operation Epic Fury in a shameless attempt to downplay the damage done and evade accountability to the American people.
“I refuse to let Donald Trump dishonor the service of our heroes just because it benefits him politically to lie about the length of this illegal campaign and hide the true cost of his war from the American people,” said Duckworth. “Trump knows his war of choice is unpopular, which is why he’s manipulating casualty records to try and fool the public into believing it’s been less of a disaster. It’s an insult to our fallen heroes, and it could jeopardize the benefits of troops and civilians he continues to put in harm’s way. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve accountability, not a Commander in Chief who plays games with their sacrifices.”
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
To ban the Secretary of Defense from hiding the true cost of war, the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act specifically:
- Bans Arbitrary, Unjustified Recategorizing of Designated Contingency Operations by prohibiting redesignating an ongoing conflict if the Administration continues to mobilize forces against the same enemy;
- Prevents Manipulation of Casualty Records by prohibiting manipulation of casualty records by falsely redesignating a contingency operation;
- Restores Casualty Records of Our Fallen and Wounded Heroes in the Iran Warby requiring restoration of casualty records for Iran-related operations since February 28, 2026, and notify next-of-kin about the correction;
- Bans Cutting Hard-Earned Benefits for Troops and Civilian Personnelby prohibiting the modification of eligibility for deployment-related personnel benefits on the basis of falsely redesignating a contingency operation; and
- Restores Benefits to Personnel Supporting Iran War by retroactively restoring all covered benefits entitled to members of the Armed Services and civilian employees who have supported Iran-related operations since February 28, 2026.
In addition to Duckworth, the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
“It’s outrageous the Administration would try to shortchange our troops and their families from receiving the full benefits that they have earned through service and sacrifice,” said Shaheen. “Because President Trump and Secretary Hegseth started a war they don’t know how to end, they’re trying to obscure the real costs of it—all while service members’ benefits hang in the balance. Our bill would ensure these brave patriots and their families receive the full support that they are due.”
“Time and time again the Trump Administration has contradicted themselves, withheld information, and misled Congress and the American people about the reality of this war,” said Peters. “They are failing the brave men and women who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. I’m proud to support this bill because the?American people deserve answers and the?roughly 40,000?U.S. servicemembers serving in the region deserve leadership.”
“While the Trump regime claims to support our servicemembers, their actions tell a far more sinister story,” said Hirono. “Instead of honoring the brave servicemembers who are being killed and injured, this regime is obscuring the truth and hiding the real cost of this illegal war—all to evade accountability from the American people. This regime claims to value transparency, and this legislation demands they actually deliver it.”
“We owe our servicemembers a debt that we can never truly repay,” said Van Hollen. “Instead of honoring them, Trump and Secretary Hegseth are manipulating casualty records and jeopardizing the benefits servicemembers and their families are owed for their sacrifices. Trump’s illegal Iran war has been a complete blunder – and we cannot let this Administration harm military families in an attempt to hide from their mistakes. With this legislation, we ensure our men and women in uniform are shown the respect they deserve and that they receive the full honors and benefits that they and their families are owed.”
“Trump’s illegal war with Iran has cost us dearly, and now he’s trying to rewrite history to better serve his agenda,” said Merkley. “I’m holding in my heart the families and loved ones of the American servicemembers killed in Iran and will keep pushing to end Trump’s war of choice.”
“The Trump Administration’s decision to reclassify the deaths of four service members and the injuries of more than 200 is not only dishonest; it is an affront to the service and sacrifice these men and women, and their families, have made,” said Bennet. “Our legislation will stop this administration from obscuring the continuing cost of President Trump’s ongoing war with Iran and, more importantly, will provide confirmation that those who have answered the call to duty and their families will receive the rightful benefits and recognition they are owed.”
“It is a disgrace that this administration is trying to hide deaths of the men and women who gave their lives serving this country,” said Gallego. “Trump has got us into another forever war that has jacked up gas prices, and instead of being focused on ending it, he is fudging the numbers for good PR. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that our servicemembers and their families are never disrespected like this again.”
“Manipulating casualty records for political purposes is a despicable disservice to brave heroes,” said Blumenthal. “President Trump’s denial of rightful status to four American servicemembers killed during the war in Iran is not only disrespectful – it could also deprive them and their families of benefits and recognition. There is no reason for this abhorrent action other than obfuscating and concealing the true costs of war – and it must be stopped.”
“I join Senator Duckworth’s effort to honor the solemn promise we make to our fallen heroes and servicemembers and make sure they aren’t caught up in the Trump administration’s lies around the Iran War,” said Kim. “We must take steps to ensure political charades never get in the way of the benefits our military and their families deserve and ensure no administration going forward can manipulate service records.”
“Time and again, this Administration has tried to conceal its failures in Iran behind the courage of the brave Americans it placed in harm’s way,” said Alsobrooks. “Now it is attempting to obscure the deaths and injuries of our service members—and that is not only hypocritical, but unconscionable. Our legislation demands accountability. It will restore casualty records, ensure the American people are told the truth about this war, and secure the benefits and honors our military and civilian personnel have earned. We will not allow any Administration to diminish the service, sacrifice, or memory of those who answered our nation’s call.”
“Anyone who steps up to serve our nation and put themselves in harm’s way deserves our utmost respect and gratitude,” said Schatz. “The Trump administration’s attempts to hide the true death toll in the war on Iran and jeopardize hard-earned benefits for troops and civilians is shameful. Our bill will help ensure the integrity of casualty records and protect benefits for those who serve.”
The Senators’ legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
“You can’t erase a war by renaming it and you can’t erase a fallen servicemember by rewriting their record,” said VoteVets Senior Advisor Max Rose. “Pete Hegseth is hiding the cost of Trump's war from the families who paid it. Senator Duckworth is a true leader who understands what this country owes its wounded and its dead, and VoteVets is proud to support her bill.”
“Senator Duckworth’s legislation to prevent unwarranted changes or reclassifications of servicemembers killed or wounded in action comes at a critical moment,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “We must ensure that the true cost of war, and the sacrifices of those who serve, is never obscured. The Department of Defense has recently made changes without sufficient transparency or clear justification, creating the potential for significant downstream consequences. These changes could impact benefits, research, and future VA funding. We strongly support this bill and the Senator’s relentless support for our military and veterans.”
Full text of the legislation is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
Duckworth has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s illegal, needless war in Iran since it began. She is one of the Senate Six—the original group of Senators who have been forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions that would cease hostilities in Iran, which Republicans have shamefully blocked nine times. Last month, the Senator announced she would oppose the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if it failed to include her amendment that would stop funding for offensive operations against Iran—while still allowing for defensive operations—until the American people consent to this war.
Ahead of the Senate’s vote on her own War Powers resolution in April, Duckworth gave impassioned remarks drawing on her personal experience serving in our nation’s last war of choice in the Middle East, imploring Republicans to remember their oaths and vote to help rein in this unhinged President—which they did not.
