Lawmakers target $47 billion in war costs as funding deadline looms

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Wednesday that Democrats intend to use their new majority to halt funding for the war with Iran. He stated that the party will invoke the power of the purse to deter the president from waging war without consent from the American people.

Schumer noted that the conflict has extended past the eight-month mark. He claimed that some Republican senators have already joined the effort to end the hostilities. The Democratic leadership views the upcoming shift in control of both chambers in January as the primary mechanism for this change.

Four Republican senators have previously aligned with Democrats on a resolution. That resolution directs the commander in chief to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities unless Congress provides formal authorization. The four are Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

The cost of the war has reached at least $47 billion. Energy prices have also risen sharply as a result. Both President Trump and Vice President Vance attributed the Republican losses in the recent midterm elections to the conflict.

Lawmakers must fund the government by December 11 to avoid a shutdown. This deadline arrives less than a month before the new congressional session begins. It remains unclear if Republicans will attempt to pass a final reconciliation bill that includes emergency war funding.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become Speaker in January, told colleagues in a letter that stopping the reckless war of choice is a top priority. He described the conflict as a war of choice rather than a necessity.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York plans to introduce a joint resolution to end the war on the first day of the new Congress. He said Democrats will use hearings, legislation, and oversight to push the administration toward a diplomatic solution.

The White House requested $87.6 billion in supplemental funding in June. That package included $67 billion for the Pentagon, but it has stalled in Congress. The National Defense Authorization Act is also facing challenges as Democrats demand a lower total and specific restrictions on war spending.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California wants Iran war funding excluded from any stopgap spending deal now. He compared the desired outcome to the end of the Vietnam War. Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin wrote on Friday that the war must end immediately rather than waiting for the next Congress.

Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois said the funding process offers the party its strongest leverage. She also wants the Pentagon to testify about what victory looks like. She noted that officials have not yet articulated what success means in the region.