JUST IN; Congress Blocks Donald Trump’s Access to lTaxpayer Funds For Military Funding of Iran war After Lawmakers Deem Ongoing Military Actions in Iran Wasteful, Unnecessary, and Costly to U.S. Interests

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of the battle between the legislative and executive branches over U.S. military action in the Middle East, members of the U.S. Congress — increasingly alarmed by President Donald Trump’s unilateral military operations against Iran — are advancing measures to restrict federal funding for ongoing and future military engagement without clear congressional authorization.

Lawmakers in both chambers have signaled they will use Congress’s constitutional power over appropriations to block or sharply limit taxpayer funds that would support sustained military actions against Iran, after a series of strikes ordered by the White House sparked concerns that the administration is embroiled in a “war of choice.” �
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Congressional Backlash Intensifies
In recent days, senators and representatives have demanded an immediate vote on a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing the president’s ability to pursue military operations without explicit authorization from Congress — a check long debated but rarely exercised. Critics argue that the administration’s recent military actions could embroil the U.S. in an open-ended conflict that has not been authorized by the people’s representatives. �
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Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, condemned the strikes and called for an end to what she described as a costly and unnecessary war, saying “Donald Trump promised lower costs and no more foreign wars. Instead, he has given us higher costs and a new, costly war in the Middle East.” �
Senator Patty Murray
Several House Democrats and a small group of Republicans have indicated willingness to support funding restrictions, citing concern over the escalating financial burden and lack of clear objectives. Pentagon briefings revealed there was no intelligence showing Iran was preparing an imminent attack on U.S. forces, intensifying congressional skepticism about the justification for sustained military engagement. �
Reuters
Debate Over Costs and Strategy
Fiscal analysts estimate that the current military campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” could cost American taxpayers up to $210 billion as the conflict expands without a defined endgame. �
Fortune
Opponents of the conflict argue these funds could be better spent on domestic priorities and critical services at home, especially as ordinary Americans face rising costs of living. Some lawmakers have framed the struggle over funding as not just a legal fight — but a moral one over prioritizing domestic needs over foreign wars without clear benefit to U.S. interests. �
PBS
Legal and Constitutional Clash
The core of the dispute rests on the Constitution’s allocation of war-making powers to Congress and the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the President to seek congressional authorization for hostilities that extend beyond a limited timeframe. Though the administration has argued that briefings to key lawmakers satisfied constitutional requirements, a broad coalition of Democrats and some Republicans disagrees, asserting that sustained military action without explicit funding authorization or a formal declaration of war undermines constitutional safeguards. �
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As negotiations over funding and war powers intensify on Capitol Hill, lawmakers across the political spectrum are preparing for a potentially historic vote on restrictions to military appropriations tied to the Iran conflict.