Voices: The war in Iran impacted my career, and it almost left me stranded. Americans abroad and at home should not be an afterthought.

Starting a war without clear contingency plans for evacuations or the cost to Americans further adds to the erosion of trust in our institutions.

(Arash Khamooshi | The New York Times) Smoke billows after airstrikes in Tehran, Iran, on Friday evening, March 6, 2026. Israel's military said it carried out strikes against the Iranian government on Friday.