Category

Military Overreach

Unauthorized military operations, domestic deployments violating Posse Comitatus, threats of force against sovereign nations

18 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

US Resumes Large-Scale Iran Strikes, Trump Vows to Hit 'Much Harder' and Rejects Iran's Truce Offer as Senate Falls One Vote Short of Ending the War (September 2026)

September 2026 saw the US resume heavy strikes on Iran, Trump threaten to strike 'much harder,' Congress come within one Senate vote of ordering an end to unauthorized hostilities, and Trump reject an Iranian truce proposal — leaving a seven-month war with no congressional authorization and no exit.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire 'Over': Nightly US Strikes, Blockade Reimposed, and Troop Deaths Moved Off the War Tally (July 2026)

The June ceasefire collapsed into a renewed nightly US bombing campaign in July 2026: Trump called the truce 'over' and Iran's leaders 'scum,' the blockade was reimposed, strikes hit bridges, energy infrastructure and (per Iran) a nuclear construction site, Iranian authorities reported 50+ dead, four US soldiers were killed — and then quietly moved off the Pentagon's Iran war tally. Congress again declined to stop it.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Islamabad Memorandum Ceasefire Collapses Within Ten Days: Hormuz Strikes, US-Iran Exchange, Trump Threatens Iran 'Will No Longer Exist' (June 2026)

A 60-day ceasefire signed June 17 collapsed within eight days: Iran struck a cargo ship near Hormuz, the US launched its third round of strikes in three weeks, Iranian missiles hit US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, a Qatari civilian died in the crossfire with attribution still unconfirmed, and Trump threatened that Iran 'will no longer exist.' No new congressional authorization exists for any of it.

Grade 5 of 5: War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Pentagon IG: Hegseth Dismantled Civilian Harm Safeguards During Active War (May 2026)

The Pentagon's own Inspector General found that Hegseth gutted every single legally required civilian harm mitigation program during an active war. Zero objectives met. 133 required actions incomplete. Civilian harm staff cut by over 90%. The Army's casualty-tracking database defunded. Released the same day CENTCOM admitted it had no way to investigate hospital and school strike reports.

Grade 5 of 5: War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Trump Rejects Iran Ceasefire Proposal, Plans 'Very Major Attack,' Cancels at Last Minute (May 2026)

Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal, called the ceasefire 'on massive life support,' and had a 'very major attack' planned before Gulf allies talked him out of it hours before execution. Congress was not consulted. Vance publicly declared the US 'locked and loaded.' The episode reveals war-making conducted entirely at presidential whim, with no legal or democratic check.

Grade 5 of 5: War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Operation Project Freedom: Unilateral Hormuz Convoy Forced Standdown After Saudi Airspace Denial (May 2026)

Trump launched a Navy operation to force ships through the Strait of Hormuz during an active ceasefire without notifying Congress. Iran attacked three US destroyers. Saudi Arabia then denied US airspace access, collapsing the operation. The 'pause for negotiations' cover story was contradicted by reporting that Saudi Arabia's airspace denial made the mission militarily impossible.

Grade 5 of 5: War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Iran War: Crime of Aggression — War Launched Without Congressional Authorization

The United States launched a major war against Iran without congressional authorization, without a UN Security Council mandate, and while diplomatic channels remained open. Legal experts, the Brennan Center, and international law scholars have characterized the strikes as unconstitutional and as potentially meeting the definition of a crime of aggression — what the Nuremberg Tribunal called 'the supreme international crime.'

Grade 5 of 5: War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela

The United States launched a unilateral military intervention in Venezuela, bombing infrastructure and capturing the sitting head of state, without Congressional authorization, UN Security Council mandate, or self-defense justification. International legal experts, the UN Secretary-General, and governments worldwide condemned the operation as a violation of the UN Charter.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

First-Ever US Airstrikes in Nigeria: Christmas Day Tomahawk Strikes on Sokoto

The US unilaterally struck a sovereign African nation for the first time, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Sokoto State. Locals disputed the ISIS narrative, unexploded ordnance fell in villages, and the legal basis for striking a non-hostile nation's territory without AUMF authority remains deeply contested.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

Naval Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Exports

A naval blockade of Venezuelan oil exports drew condemnation from UN experts as a violation of fundamental international law, with legal analysts characterizing it as an act of war imposed without Congressional authorization.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

Signalgate: Top Officials Share Classified Strike Plans in Unsecured Group Chat

Senior US officials including the Vice President, Defense Secretary, and CIA Director used a personal Signal group chat to discuss classified strike plans targeting Houthi forces in Yemen. A journalist was accidentally added. The Defense Secretary shared specific targeting and timing information. The strikes went ahead as planned and killed civilians. The incident revealed systemic disregard for classified information handling procedures.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Colombia Deportation Standoff: Economic Coercion via Tariff Threats

The US threatened Colombia with 25-50% tariffs, visa bans, and customs inspections to coerce acceptance of military deportation flights. Colombia capitulated within hours, establishing a precedent for weaponizing economic power to override sovereign decisions on migration.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty

The administration threatened military and economic coercion to annex Greenland and reclaim the Panama Canal, with the Pentagon developing actual invasion plans. Greenland annexation threats were renewed in May 2026 — Trump told NBC the US 'will get' Greenland and refused to rule out military force.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

War Criminal Pardons: Gallagher, Lorance, Golsteyn — Undermining Military Justice

The Gallagher case was the most prominent: he had been reported by his own platoon members, who described him as 'freaking evil' and said they feared he would shoot civilians and colleagues. He was convicted by court-martial of posing with a corpse but acquitted of murder after a key prosecution witness changed his testimony. Trump followed the verdict by restoring Gallagher's rank and then, overriding Defense Secretary Esper's objections, blocking the Navy SEALs from removing Gallagher's Trident pin (the insignia of qualification). Navy Secretary Richard Spencer was fired after he sought a compromise with the White House outside normal channels. The pardons were condemned by military ethics experts as undermining the uniform code and the military's commitment to the laws of armed conflict.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

MOAB Strike in Afghanistan: First Combat Use of Largest Non-Nuclear Bomb

U.S. forces dropped the MOAB on an ISIS-Khorasan tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar Province. It was the bomb's first combat use. Trump said he had authorized 'another successful job' but defense officials indicated the decision was made at the field commander level without direct presidential sign-off. Afghan and UN officials disputed casualty figures and raised concerns about civilian impact in surrounding villages.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Shayrat Airbase Strike: Unilateral Military Action Against Syria Without Congressional Authorization

Following a chemical weapons attack on Khan Shaykhun attributed to the Assad regime, Trump ordered a cruise missile strike on the airbase allegedly used to launch the attack. The strike was conducted without Congressional authorization and without a UN Security Council mandate. U.S. officials pre-warned Russia, which warned Syrian forces. The airbase was operational again within hours.