President Donald Trump dragged the United States into war without Congressional support, but lawmakers are increasingly questioning the timeline, terms, and cost of ending the war with Iran.
Three weeks into the conflict, the toll is becoming clear. At least 13 American service members have died, and over 230 have been injured. A $200 billion Pentagon request to fund the war is pending at the White House.
Allies are being attacked, oil prices are soaring, and thousands of American soldiers are deployed in the Middle East with no end in sight.
“The real question is: what are we ultimately trying to accomplish?” Senator Thom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina, told the Associated Press.
“I generally support anything that eliminates the mullahs,” he added. “But ultimately, we need some sort of strategic articulation, a clear definition of our goals.”
On Friday night, Donald Trump indicated that he was considering “gradually scaling back” military operations while laying out new objectives and goals.
The Republican president’s decision to launch the war led by the United States and Israel against Iran is testing Congress’s resolve, which is controlled by his party.
Republicans have largely backed the commander-in-chief, but they will likely face more consequential choices in the war.
Under the War Powers Act, the president can conduct military operations for 60 days without Congressional approval. So far, Republicans have easily rejected several Democratic resolutions to end the military campaign.
But lawmakers emphasized that the administration must present a more comprehensive strategy in the future, as they are simultaneously asked to approve billions of dollars in new expenses.
President Trump’s jest that the war will end “when I feel it in my gut” has raised concerns.
The president’s party seems hesitant to directly challenge him, even as the conflict drags on. House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted that the military operation would end soon.
“The initial mission is practically accomplished at present,” Johnson said this week. “We sought to destroy ballistic missiles and their production capabilities, as well as neutralize the navy, and these objectives have been achieved.”
Johnson acknowledged that Iran’s ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz has slightly extended the situation, especially since the United States’ allies have largely rejected the president’s request for assistance.
“As soon as we have resolved the situation, I think everything will practically be over,” Johnson maintained.
But the administration’s stated objectives – including ending Iran’s nuclear weapon capability and reducing its stockpile of ballistic missiles – have left lawmakers perplexed as they are fluid and elusive.
Congress Retains Budgetary Power
The Pentagon has informed the White House that it is seeking an additional $200 billion for the war effort, an extraordinary amount that is unlikely to garner Congressional support.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called this figure “ridiculous.”
Congress-approved credits for the Department of Defense exceed $800 billion this year, and Trump’s tax relief bill grants an additional $150 billion to the Pentagon for future years, aimed at various projects and upgrades.
Many lawmakers recalled President George W. Bush’s decision after the 9/11 attacks to appear before Congress to seek authorization for the use of military force, a vote to support the military actions he proposed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Tillis noted that President Trump had leeway under the War Powers Act to conduct this military campaign, but that was about to change.
“When you reach the 45-day mark, you have to start defining one of two options: either an authorization to use military force to continue the intervention beyond that date, or a very clear roadmap for withdrawal,” he explained. “These are really the options the administration needs to consider.”
