WASHINGTON (Realist English). The American public demands an end to the war. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 71% of Americans, including 93% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans, want Congress to pass legislation ending the conflict. Vice President JD Vance and Trump himself have acknowledged that the war became the main reason for the Republican defeat in the elections.
Tool one: control over the budget
The most effective lever for Democrats is the “power of the purse.” The US Constitution grants Congress the right to decide how federal funds are spent. Trump requested an increase in the defense budget from approximately $950 billion to $1.5 trillion, plus an additional $67 billion directly for the war. Democrats have stated they will not approve such a budget.
Moreover, they could take a tougher step — refusing to support any spending package containing war funding already during the current lame-duck session. Current government funding expires on 11 December, creating the risk of a shutdown before Christmas. Senator Michael Bennet urged colleagues to “refuse to vote for cloture on any package containing even a cent for his war.”
After 3 January 2027, when the new Congress is sworn in, Democrats will be able to include provisions in budget bills prohibiting the use of any funds for combat operations against Iran. Trump could veto it, but that again risks a shutdown and non-payment of military salaries — a price the president may not want to pay.
Tool two: war powers resolutions
Trump started the war without congressional authorization, and Democrats along with several Republicans have repeatedly voted to end it. One such resolution, based on the War Powers Act of 1973, passed both chambers, but the administration ignored it.
Democrats promise to continue this line. Congressman Gregory Meeks stated he will introduce a joint resolution to end the war on the first day of the new Congress.
However, there is an obstacle: Trump is expected to veto any such measure, and overriding it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Democrats will need support from a significant portion of Republicans. Four Republican senators — Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul — have previously supported Democrats on a similar resolution.
Tool three: hearings and investigations
Control over committees gives Democrats the ability to initiate hearings on the conduct of the war, its cost (already at least $47 billion), and Pentagon actions. This does not end the war directly but creates constant political pressure and may force the administration toward greater transparency.
Limitations and obstacles
Democratic control does not mean Congress will adopt the Iranian point of view on the conflict. Some Democrats remain hawkish on Iran and support Israel; they may advocate limiting the war but preserving sanctions and defensive supplies. In addition, Republican House leadership states it will not send bills to a Republican president that he intends to veto and will prefer to wait until next year.
The new Congress is unlikely to be able to “end” the war with a single action — the president retains veto power and broad commander-in-chief authority. However, it can turn the continuation of the conflict into a politically and financially disadvantageous endeavor: through refusal of funding, budget restrictions, and constant war powers resolutions.
The key question is whether Democrats have enough votes to override a veto and whether they are willing to risk a shutdown to end the war, or whether their strategy will be limited to pressure that forces Trump to seek a way out of the conflict on his own. In any case, the period when the White House could wage war without looking back at Capitol Hill is coming to an end.
