Intelligence Leaders to Brief Iran Strikes to Congress

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Intelligence Leaders to Brief Iran Strikes to Congress/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Senior U.S. intelligence chiefs will deliver classified briefings to Congress after President Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran retaliated. Lawmakers question why Congress wasn’t consulted and push for clarity on the strikes’ legality and effectiveness. Heated debates over executive war powers loom amid ongoing Middle East instability.

This image released by the White House and digitally altered to diffuse papers by the source for national security reasons, shows CIA Director John Ratcliffe, in foreground seated, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, speaks with national security adviser Andy Baker with White House counsel David Warrington seated in background in the Situation Room, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP)

Congress to Be Briefed on Trump’s Iran Strikes: Quick Looks

Classified briefings scheduled for House and Senate led by CIA’s Ratcliffe, DNI Gabbard, Pentagon’s Gen. Caine, and deputies from State Dept.
Timing: Three days after airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, one day after Iran’s missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
Congressional backlash: Democrats and some Republicans demand explanations for unilateral action and compliance with war powers
Presidential notification: Trump informed Congressional leaders via short letter, but lawmakers call that insufficient
Calls for oversight: Senate poised to vote on resolution mandating Congressional approval for further military action
Strategic concerns: Lawmakers seek breakdown of Iran strike impacts, U.S. response plans, and risk to American troops

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters about the U.S. bombinb of three sites in Iran, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Intelligence Leaders to Brief Iran Strikes to Congress

Deep Look

Washington, D.C. — June 24, 2025

This Tuesday, Congress will receive classified briefings from top intelligence and defense officials concerning President Trump’s recent military action in the Middle East. These meetings—separate sessions for the House and Senate—come amid mounting concern over the lack of Congressional involvement in the decision-making process.

Who’s Speaking

The briefing panel includes:

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard,
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and Steve Feinberg, among others

Why Now

These proceedings arrive three days after Trump ordered a precision strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities—including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—and a day after Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Though the Qatar attack caused no casualties, Qatar and U.S. sources confirmed intercepts of multiple missiles.

Congressional Concerns

Lawmakers across the aisle are demanding answers. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said members expect a thorough breakdown: Did the strikes significantly degrade Iran’s nuclear threat—and what is the plan to prevent further escalation?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a second classified briefing to detail retaliation intelligence and risks to U.S. troops, emphasizing the administration’s constitutional duty to consult Congress first.

Representative Richard Blumenthal echoed concerns, seeking specifics on strike damage and strategic rationale, pointing to the Constitution as the ultimate check on executive war decisions .

War Powers on Trial

In response, Senate Democrats—led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D‑Va.)—are accelerating a war powers resolution that would require explicit congressional approval before further military engagement with Iran. Kaine stated, “the American public… has a right to weigh in” .

Although Trump’s GOP allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the action as “peace through strength,” some Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, also voiced constitutional concerns, underscoring growing intra-party fractures.

White House Notification

Trump’s formal communication to Congress came via a brief letter sent after the strikes—three days too late for many members—leading to criticism of its brevity and lack of classified detail . The White House defended the step but sidestepped detailed pre-briefings.

What’s at Stake

At issue are fundamental questions about U.S. military engagement:

Was Iran truly an imminent threat warranting unilateral action?
Have the nuclear sites been effectively disabled?
What contingency plans exist to shield American troops?
Should future strikes require Congressional authorization?

These answers may determine whether the U.S. enters another prolonged Middle East conflict—or prompt a reassertion of legislative oversight over foreign military interventions.