Deluzio Joins Push to Stop Trump from Hiding True Cost of Iran War, Dishonoring Fallen Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Iraq War veteran and House Armed Services Committee member Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) helped announce the new Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act. This legislation, which he co-sponsors, would stop President Donald Trump’s attempt to hide both the duration and the true cost of his Iran War from the American people.
This bill introduction follows the Pentagon’s unprecedented move to recategorize recent casualties from 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 will not allow Donald Trump to dishonor the service of our troops just because it benefits him politically to downplay the length and bloody cost of his Iran War,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Trump knows his reckless Iran War is failing, which is why he’s manipulating casualty records to try and fool the American people. It is disgusting that this administration is trying to play games with the deaths of the men and women who gave their lives serving this country.”
The legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
Congressman Deluzio has been opposed to this Iran War since Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth started it, criticizing the administration for launching it without a clearly defined strategy or exit plan. Congressman Deluzio is also a House co-lead of the No Funds for Iran War Act which would prohibit the use of additional public money for military action against Iran in the absence of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or declaration of war from Congress. He also put Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth through the ringer with intensive questioning in a hearing in front of the House Armed Services Committee.
Specifically, to ban the Secretary of Defense from hiding the true cost of war, the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act:
- 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 War by 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 Personnel by 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.
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