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Hakeem Jeffries: “We've seen an erosion of Congress exercising that authority.”

Featuring: Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic | U.S. House New York, 8th Congressional District

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown

Published February 27, 2026 | Video Starts at 17:36

They also gave us the authority as it relates to trade and tariffs, and they gave us the authority as it relates to the power to declare war. And unfortunately, over time We've seen an erosion of Congress exercising that authority. And our commitment on behalf of the American people is to regain that. But can you do anything to stop a president who decides to take military action like this? (17:36–17:42)

CLAIM

Asserts that Congress's exercise of its authority has eroded over time.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Hakeem Jeffries

“The Trump tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year.”
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“They gutted Medicaid, ripped away SNAP benefits from millions of Americans, and gave ICE a $75 billion slush fund.”
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“These special elections that we've seen dramatic overperformance, most recently in Texas by 31 points and then in Louisiana, the home state…”
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“The president tried to use emergency authority to federalize the national Guard. We, of course, sued him, took it all the way up to the…”
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“The Trump administration should seek authorization for the use of military force in connection with any strikes against Iran.”
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“Donald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. Costs haven't gone down. Costs have gone up.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 01:02-01:08
“Congress needs to regain its authority on trade and tariff issues.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 01:34-01:41
“We have to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”
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“ICE is completely and totally out of control.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 03:04-03:09
“We want to make sure that sensitive locations like houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and polling sites are protected from overreach by…”
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“DHS, as a funding bill, has not moved forward at this point in time.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 04:47-04:52
“This administration [Trump's] is the most corrupt in American history.”
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“17 House Republicans joined us, marking the first time in American history that any Republicans in this Congress have voted affirmatively…”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 07:15-07:31
“Democrats have won elections consistently for the last 14 months.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 08:25-08:30
“We haven't lost a meaningful election in the entirety of the Trump administration.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on Iran, Border Security and Government Shutdown | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 08:35-08:42
“We swept in Pennsylvania and then went on to win races in Florida, the Miami mayors race for the first time in, in 30 years.”
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“What has united us is the issue of affordability and our commitment to actually drive down the high cost of living.”
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“It's my understanding that the Office of Congressional Counsel is in the midst of that investigation and in fact may be prepared to issue a…”
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“This so called Save America act is dead on arrival in the Senate.”
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“The President claimed the authority to unilaterally issue tariffs, tariffs that are hurting businesses, hurting entrepreneurs, and certainly…”
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“This is the most corrupt administration in American history.”
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“We are committed to commencing impeachment proceedings against [Kristi Noem].”
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“She's unleashed these poorly trained agents to brutalize law abiding immigrant families and American citizens, in some cases killing them.”
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“What we have to do as the Article 1 branch of government is reclaim our authority as a separate and co-equal branch.”
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“They gave the House of Representatives the authority as it relates to appropriations because they knew taxation and spending were…”
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“They also gave us the authority as it relates to trade and tariffs, and they gave us the authority as it relates to the power to declare…”
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“The last thing we need is another failed foreign forever war, which certainly would be the outcome if Donald Trump decides to get us…”
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