Four Democratic-aligned US senators have threatened to block an end-of-year government spending agreement unless it includes restrictions preventing President Donald Trump from using federal funds to continue the war against Iran.
In a joint statement, Senators Michael Bennet, Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen and Tammy Duckworth said the American public had made its position clear, arguing that the United States must end what they described as Trump’s illegal and destructive war against Iran.
The senators said the conflict had driven up the prices of fuel, food and fertilisers, while claiming that more than 20 US service members had been killed and hundreds wounded. They also argued that none of Trump’s stated military objectives had been achieved, while civilians across the region had suffered the consequences.
With the December 11 deadline for government funding approaching, the lawmakers warned Congress against approving a short-term spending agreement that would provide billions of additional dollars for what they called Trump’s “war of choice”.
They insisted that any funding package must include provisions preventing the administration from using congressional appropriations to continue the military campaign.
Drawing comparisons with the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, the senators warned that military conflicts can last for decades, damage the economy, drain military resources and ultimately make Americans less safe.
“When we vote on appropriations, we intend to fund the government and stop funding this war,” the senators said.
The statement followed a separate letter from Bennet, who urged fellow senators to oppose any funding package that includes additional money for the war.
Trump demands $350 billion in military funding
Meanwhile, Trump called on Senate leadership to immediately advance a $350 billion military funding bill through the budget reconciliation process.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president claimed that he had rebuilt the US military during his first term and was now making it “bigger and better than ever before”.
Trump accused Democrats of making opposition to the proposed investment their top priority, arguing that they wanted to leave American troops weak and vulnerable.
“Republicans must do what is right for our warriors. Democrats will never do that. The time is now,” Trump declared.
The dispute highlights growing tensions in Washington over military spending, the cost of the conflict with Iran and Congress’s authority to determine how federal funds are used to finance the war.
