WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Trump Administration attempts to hide the true cost of the Iran war from the American people, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues introduced the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act to stop President Donald Trump’s attempt to dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat. This comes after the Pentagon recategorized recent casualties suffered in Trump’s Iran war – including four killed and over 200 wounded servicemembers – under a separate category outside of Operation Epic Fury to downplay the damage done and evade accountability to the American people.

“Donald Trump launched an unpopular war of choice wholly unprepared, and now he is doing everything he can to lie and deceive the American people about its consequences. This war has sent costs skyrocketing, taken the lives of 18 American service members, and wounded hundreds more”, said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “Now, rather than take responsibility and bring this war to an end, the Trump Administration is pulling the wool over the American people’s eyes. This is an insult to the servicemembers wounded and those who perished – and all of their families who have sacrificed alongside them. I’m pushing to make sure our servicemembers and their families get the respect and dignity they earned and to hold this reckless president accountable for this haphazard and spiraling war in Iran.” 

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 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.

Senator Baldwin has been an outspoken critic of President Trump’s illegal war with Iran and has repeatedly forced votes in the Senate to end Trump’s war of choice that is hurting Wisconsinites. For months, Senator Baldwin has been raising the alarms on the Trump Administration’s inadequate preparation, which put American troops in harm’s way and led to insufficient care for injured servicemembers, including two Wisconsinites who went weeks without proper screening and treatment for traumatic brain injuries.

The bill is led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and also co-sponsored by 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), 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).