Congressional Dissent Channel

The Congressional Dissent Channel is a platform created for and by United States congressional aides to safely and anonymously offer alternative or dissenting opinions to Congressional policies and actions. Established in July 2024, it takes inspiration from the State Department's internal Dissent Channel, which was formed in 1971 in response to the United States’ disastrous prosecution of the Vietnam War.

The Dissent Channel is maintained by current and former congressional staff as a platform for aides to share deliberative, dissenting views on actions taken by Members of Congress, congressional committees, or the institution at large, to continue to arm the Israeli government as it continues to carry out gross violations of human rights in its response to Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7, 2023.

Despite clear and mounting objections from constituents across the country, threats that the war’s regional escalation poses to U.S. interests, and the unconscionable Palestinian civilian casualties numbering in the tens of thousands, Congress has refused to use its leverage to condition arms on curbing human rights abuses, and to compel Israel to broker an immediate ceasefire. While Congressional staff have taken an overwhelming amount of calls from constituents urging their bosses to support these aims, there are often few outlets for those views within their own offices or through mainstream channels.

Congressional staff who wish to contribute to the Dissent Channel under their own names must do so understanding their rights and associated risks. This is an informal channel, given the present lack of an officially recognized outlet for dissent in Congress. We hope that managers throughout the institution look to the State Department’s example and welcome thoughtful and reasoned dissent in the halls of Congress.

Mission Statement

We are congressional aides dedicated to changing the paradigm of U.S. support for the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza being carried out by the state of Israel.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which outlines the responsibilities of Congress as the representative voice of the American people, exemplifies our Founders' tradition of principled dissent. From the American colonies’ response to the British Stamp Act of 1765; to the women's suffrage and liberation movements of the 19th and 20th century; to abolition and the Civil Rights movement—dissent as an instrument of progress is a foundational cornerstone of American democracy.

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