Democrats Threaten to Defund Iran War Amid Republican Budget Split

Congressional Democrats are weighing a strategy to withhold votes for a government funding bill to defund President Donald Trump's war in Iran before a December 11 deadline. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the conflict as one of the greatest foreign policy fiascos in American history, while Senator Chris Van Hollen and Governor Josh Shapiro urged the party to use the power of the purse strings to end the war. Senator Patty Murray stated the president will not receive the nearly $70 billion requested to bankroll the conflict under a Democratic Congress.

Simultaneously, Republicans are divided over a proposed third budget reconciliation bill before Democrats take control of both congressional chambers in January. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune listed government funding as a priority, some Republicans are clashing over the inclusion of military funding for the Iran war. Senator John Kennedy urged colleagues to press ahead despite voting obstacles, but Senator Thom Tillis argued that no current version of the bill can secure the necessary 51 votes.

Senator Rand Paul warned that using reconciliation to finance the war would suggest the party ignored the reasons for its recent midterm election losses. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and require at least seven Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and pass the funding bill before the new Congress is sworn in on January 3.