Five weeks into the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the human and economic toll continues to mount. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat and more than 200 wounded; Iranian authorities report at least 2,076 people killed and more than 26,500 wounded inside Iran since strikes began on February 28, 2026. Israel has reported approximately 25 fatalities and over 6,400 civilian injuries from Iranian missile and drone attacks, and additional deaths have been recorded in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 20% of the world’s oil typically flows—has driven Brent crude above $100 per barrel and pushed the national average for gasoline in the United States past $4 per gallon, with diesel above $5.60. Independent analysts estimate the direct cost to the U.S. Treasury at roughly $35 billion to $45 billion in the first month, and the Pentagon has formally requested a $200 billion supplemental from Congress on top of a proposed $500 billion increase to the fiscal 2027 defense budget.¹

The Constitution divides the power to wage war between Congress and the president. Article I grants Congress the sole authority to declare war and control federal spending.² Article II designates the president as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.³ The Founders deliberately split these powers to ensure that no single leader could commit the nation to war alone. In an attempt to reinforce this principle, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in 1973, requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces into hostilities and to withdraw them within 60 days unless Congress authorizes their continued use.⁴ Despite this, every president since Richard Nixon has either sidestepped the law or questioned its constitutionality, and it has never successfully ended a military operation.⁵

The roots of the current conflict trace back to 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, a multilateral agreement that had sought to cap Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran responded by accelerating its nuclear program; by 2025, it had enriched enough uranium for an estimated four to five nuclear warheads. In June 2025, in response to this threat, Israel launched strikes against Iran, and the United States joined with Operation Midnight Hammer, bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities.⁶ Congressional leaders were notified after the strikes were completed, and a war powers resolution failed in the Senate.⁷ Diplomatic talks followed but collapsed. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a far broader campaign targeting Iranian leadership, military infrastructure, and nuclear sites.⁸ Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes.

More than 50,000 U.S. service members have been deployed to the region, and the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down.⁹ Polling shows that a majority of Americans oppose the war: a Pew Research Center survey found that 59% believe the decision to strike Iran was wrong, and 61% disapprove of how the president is handling the conflict.¹⁰ Even within the president’s own party, some Republican lawmakers have expressed alarm over the war’s cost, duration, and the prospect of ground troops.¹¹

What Is Being Proposed?

On June 17, 2025, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced S. 2087, the No War Against Iran Act, with seven cosponsors. The bill would prohibit federal funds from being spent on military operations in Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a specific authorization for the use of military force.¹² It explicitly states that the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force—passed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and before the Iraq War—cannot be used to justify military action against Iran. The bill includes an exception allowing the president to use force in self-defense if the United States is attacked.¹³ Two war powers resolutions directing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iran have failed in the Senate, both on 47–53 votes.¹⁴

Arguments in Favor of Passing the Bill

Supporters of the No War Against Iran Act argue that the Constitution is clear: the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Yet, the United States is waging a full-scale military campaign against Iran—with more than 50,000 troops deployed and 13 service members killed—without a vote in Congress. “Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people’s elected representatives in Congress,” Sen. Sanders said when he introduced the bill.¹⁵ Supporters note that the War Powers Resolution was supposed to prevent exactly this kind of unauthorized conflict but has failed for 50 years, and that two war powers resolutions on Iran have already been voted down. If those tools do not work, they contend, Congress must turn to its most powerful check: the power of the purse.

Proponents also point out that opposition to the war crosses ideological lines. A Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of Americans believe the decision to strike Iran was wrong.¹⁶ Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), once one of the president’s closest allies, called the war “the worst betrayal” of the “America First” promise, recalling, “We said ‘No More Foreign Wars, No More Regime Change!’ We said it on rally stage after rally stage.”¹⁷ Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson reportedly met with the president three times before the strikes to argue against military action.¹⁸ Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has called the national debt a greater threat than Iran. As Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has put it, “If you don’t have the guts to vote yes or no on a war vote, how dare you send our sons and daughters into war where they risk their lives.”¹⁹

Supporters further argue that the bill closes a critical legal loophole by barring the use of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force to justify action against Iran—authorizations originally passed for Afghanistan and Iraq that, critics say, presidents have stretched far beyond what Congress intended. They emphasize the war’s costs to date, including billions of dollars spent, gas prices driven up sharply, and instability across the Gulf, and note that the Pentagon is now requesting $200 billion more for a war Congress never authorized. Even some Republicans have voiced concern: Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) called herself “tired of the Industrial War Complex,” and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) demanded to know, “What’s the mission here?”²⁰ “Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives and waste trillions more dollars,” Sen. Sanders has warned.²¹ In supporters’ view, Congress has a duty to say: not one more dollar without a vote.

Arguments Against Passing the Bill

Opponents of the No War Against Iran Act argue that the bill is not a principled reassertion of congressional authority but a dangerous attempt to defund an active military operation while service members are in harm’s way. Thirteen Americans have died in the conflict, and critics contend that cutting off funding would not bring the rest home safely—it would leave them without the resources they need to operate and protect themselves. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has framed the operation in sweeping terms: “The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is upon us. God bless President Trump, our military, and our allies in Israel.”²² Sen. Graham argues that the fall of Iran’s regime would reshape the Middle East, expanding the Abraham Accords and eliminating the proxy terror networks that have destabilized the region for decades.

Opponents also emphasize that Iran posed a genuine and serious threat to American security. Before Operation Epic Fury, Iran had enriched enough uranium for an estimated four to five nuclear warheads and was, according to the State Department, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Supporters of the operation argue that destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, eliminating its nuclear threat, and degrading its proxy networks are legitimate security goals. Sen. Graham has compared the moment to the fall of the Berlin Wall: “If the ayatollah falls, it will set in motion a similar sequence of events across the Middle East.”²³ Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the administration “complied with the law 100%” regarding War Powers Resolution reporting.²⁴

Critics of the bill further argue that defunding a military operation does not end a war—it creates chaos. Troops and sailors cannot be instantly withdrawn, and supply chains and alliances take time to wind down. In their view, Congress should debate and vote on the use of force directly rather than pulling the financial rug out from under the military in the middle of an operation. They note that no presidential administration—Republican or Democratic—has ever accepted the War Powers Resolution as a binding constraint on executive authority.²⁵ Even some lawmakers seeking more oversight prefer briefings to a funding cutoff. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has called for open hearings, saying, “The people in Alaska are asking me how long is this going on? Are there going to be boots on the ground, how much is this going to cost?”²⁶ Opponents conclude that if Congress believes this war is unjustified, it should vote on a declaration of war or an authorization for the use of military force—not, in their words, hide behind the purse strings.

Discussion Questions

1. What have you hear from friends, family members, and others in your life (including people and groups you engage with online) about the U.S. military efforts in Iran?
2. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war and control federal spending, while the president serves as commander-in-chief. How should these powers be balanced when U.S. forces are already deployed in active hostilities?
3. Supporters of the No War Against Iran Act argue that the “power of the purse” is the most effective check Congress has left on presidential war-making, while opponents argue that cutting off funding mid-conflict endangers troops in the field. Which view do you find more persuasive, and why?
4. The bill explicitly states that the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force cannot be used to justify action against Iran. Should Congress periodically revisit and update older authorizations, or should presidents be able to rely on them for new conflicts?
5. Public opinion polling shows a majority of Americans oppose the war, yet two war powers resolutions on Iran have failed in the Senate. What role should public opinion play in congressional decisions about war and peace?
6. Rep. Roy asked, “What’s the mission here?” How clearly should the goals of a military operation be defined before Congress authorizes—or continues to fund—it?
7. If you were a member of Congress, how would you vote on the No War Against Iran Act? What factors would guide your decision?

 

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

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Sources

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Mehaniq

[1] Casualty, Oil, Gas, and U.S. Fiscal Cost Figures Compiled from: Al Jazeera, “US-Israel Attacks on Iran: Death Toll and Injuries Live Tracker,” April 2026; Wikipedia, “2026 Iran War,” April 7, 2026; Statista, “Israeli Fatalities and Injuries in the U.S.-Israel War with Iran, February 28–March 30, 2026,” March 31, 2026; Wikipedia, “Economic Impact of the 2026 Iran War,” April 7, 2026; Time, “How High Could Gas Prices Go? What to Know About the Iran War’s Ongoing Impact,” March 31, 2026; American Enterprise Institute / Roger Pielke Jr., “The Economic Costs of the Iran War,” April 2026; VisaVerge, “2026 U.S.-Iran War Impact: Gas Prices and Visa Delays Explained,” April 2026.

[2] U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8: https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/

[3] U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2: https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-2/section-2/

[4] War Powers Resolution of 1973 (P.L. 93-148): https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/542

[5] History.com, “War Powers Act”: https://www.history.com/articles/war-powers-act

[6] CSIS, “What Operation Midnight Hammer Means for the Future of Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions”: https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-operation-midnight-hammer-means-future-irans-nuclear-ambitions

[7] The Hill, “Kaine Faces Uphill Battle on War Powers Resolution”: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5762612-us-military-operation-iran/

[8] CSIS, “Operation Epic Fury and the Remnants of Iran’s Nuclear Program”: https://www.csis.org/analysis/operation-epic-fury-and-remnants-irans-nuclear-program

[9] S.J.Res. 116, 119th Congress, Findings: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/116/text

[10] Pew Research Center, “Americans Broadly Disapprove of U.S. Military Action in Iran,” March 25, 2026: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/03/25/americans-broadly-disapprove-of-u-s-military-action-in-iran/

[11] CNN, “Cracks Emerge in GOP Over Iran War Cost,” March 19, 2026: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/iran-war-cost-republicans-congress

[12] U.S. Congress, S. 2087: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2087

[13] Senator Bernie Sanders, “NEWS: Sanders Introduces No War Against Iran Act,” June 16, 2025: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-no-war-against-iran-act/

[14] CBS News, “Senate Rejects Attempt to Rein in Trump’s Power to Wage War on Iran”: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump/

[15] Sen. Bernie Sanders: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-no-war-against-iran-act/

[16] Pew Research Center, March 2026: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/03/25/americans-broadly-disapprove-of-u-s-military-action-in-iran/

[17] Fortune, “Marjorie Taylor Greene Rips Iran Strikes as Trump Betraying America First,” February 28, 2026: https://fortune.com/2026/02/28/trump-america-first-bomb-iran-middle-east-regime-change/

[18] The Hill, “Tucker Carlson Sought to Talk Trump Out of Iran War,” March 3, 2026: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5763289-tucker-carlson-trump-iran-war-report/

[19] WTOP, “Virginia Sen. Kaine Leads Push for War Powers Resolution on Iran”: https://wtop.com/liveblog-today-on-the-hill/2026/03/virginia-sen-kaine-leads-push-for-war-powers-resolution-on-iran/

[20] MSNBC, “Republicans are Already Fighting Over Trump’s $200 Billion War Supplemental,” March 27, 2026: https://www.ms.now/news/republicans-already-fighting-trump-200-billion-war-supplemental

[21] Sen. Bernie Sanders: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-no-war-against-iran-act/

[22] Raw Story, “Lindsey Graham Preemptively Honors US Soldiers,” March 1, 2026: https://www.rawstory.com/lindsey-graham-2675419591/

[23] Senator Lindsey Graham, “Iran is Facing a Berlin Wall Moment,” Fox News, February 26, 2026: https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B086D340-99B9-4B9D-8E6D-0395E7EC74A2

[24] White House, “Operation Epic Fury: Decisive American Power,” March 12, 2026: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/03/operation-epic-fury-decisive-american-power-to-crush-irans-terror-regime/

[25] Wikipedia, “War Powers Resolution”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution

[26] CNN, “Cracks Emerge in GOP Over Iran War Cost”: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/iran-war-cost-republicans-congress