RELEASE: Gottheimer, Bacon Demand Answers from the Administration on U.S.-Houthi Agreement, Ongoing Threat to Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 9, 2025, U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Don Bacon (NE-2) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio demanding clarity on the May 6 agreement with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces. 

The deal made with the Houthis would halt all U.S. strikes against the terrorist group without addressing the ongoing threat to Israel, our key democratic ally. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the U.S. agreement.

“On May 4 — just two days before this deal was struck — a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States,” the Members of Congress wrote in a letter to President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio. 

The letter continues, “We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.”

“The Houthi threat to global shipping cannot be separated from the danger this terrorist group continues to pose to U.S. forces in the region as well as to our allies like Israel. Ultimately, Iran is at the heart of this threat,” said Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action. “Iran’s financial assistance and transfers of advanced weapons to the Houthis must be addressed and until they are, any agreement with this terrorist group will achieve only temporary calm. The Trump administration must develop and work with Congress to implement a long-term strategy to degrade the Houthi threat and hold Iran accountable for its continued support to this terrorist group.”

In addition to Gottheimer and Bacon, Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Greg Stanton (AZ-4) also signed the letter. 

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear President Trump and Acting National Security Advisor Rubio,

We are writing to express our serious concern over the agreement reached on May 6 with the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which halts U.S. strikes against Houthi targets without addressing the threat to Israel. Shortly after the announcement, the Houthis declared their intent to continue targeting Israeli civilians, despite the agreement with the United States. This decision leaves Israel dangerously vulnerable and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iran’s proxy network. 

After months of sustained operations—including more than 800 U.S. and coalition air and missile strikes—the Houthis remain not only operational, but increasingly emboldened, regularly launching ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory. This is unacceptable. The fact that such a deal was made despite the Houthis’ continued aggression underscores a troubling lack of strategic coherence. 

Since Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Houthis have openly declared their unwavering support for Hamas and Iran’s broader proxy network, launching missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and global shipping in the Red Sea. These operations have not only endangered Israeli civilians, but have also raised prices globally by disrupting one of the busiest global shipping routes in the world. 

Notably, on May 4—just two days before this deal was struck—a Houthi missile reached Israeli territory, injuring six and disrupting operations at Israel’s primary international airport. That such an attack could occur after extensive efforts by the Administration to target the Houthis, and then be followed by a negotiated cessation of strikes, sends the wrong message to both our allies and adversaries: that U.S. resolve is negotiable and that aggression against our allies will go unpunished by the United States.

Moreover, this ceasefire fails to address the root of the problem: Iran’s supply of advanced weapons, intelligence, and training to the Houthis. Without a strategy that targets Tehran’s supply lines, any agreement with the Houthis is merely a tactical pause and leaves Israel exposed.

Given these serious concerns, we are requesting a briefing to Congress by no later than May 19 that includes:

• The full details of the May 6 agreement, including a strategy for how Israel will be engaged throughout its implementation;
• An assessment of the Houthis long-range missile capabilities, specifically their ability to target Israeli territory;
• An examination of Iran’s supply of weapons systems to the Houthis, including how these supply routes have evaded U.S. forces;

We urge the Administration to engage closely with our Israeli partners to ensure that any diplomatic or military arrangements fully protect Israel’s security interests and do not embolden Iranian proxies. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the use of American military force is both properly authorized and strategically effective. We expect a timely briefing rooted in a strategy that defends our allies, restores deterrence, and reaffirms our global leadership.

###