Democrats won’t become the congressional majority until Jan. 3, but they’re already making announcements about what they plan to do with their new powers that have zero to do with the ‘affordability’ message they ran on.
Four Senate Democrats are threatening to oppose any government spending package that provides additional funding for President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, potentially leading to yet another government shutdown.
Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland joined independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, in issuing the warning Thursday.
Today, US Senator Tammy Duckworth laid out how democrats should approach ending the War in Iran and get further transparency @kmoxnews https://t.co/Ac7hhd26nv
— Sean Malone (@SMalone27) November 11, 2026
The senators said they would not support appropriations legislation that continues funding U.S. military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.
“We will not vote for a government funding package that provides a blank check for President Trump’s illegal and unauthorized war in Iran,” the senators said in a joint statement.
Their warning comes as Congress approaches another government funding deadline and lawmakers attempt to negotiate legislation necessary to keep federal agencies operating.
Republicans currently control the Senate, while Democrats are preparing to take control of the House in January following their midterm victories.
Because most major spending legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, Republicans could still need Democratic support depending on the structure of the final package.
The four senators argued that Congress should not continue financing military operations in Iran without first explicitly authorizing them.
“The Constitution is clear: Congress, not the President, has the power to declare war,” they said.
They also accused the Trump administration of expanding the conflict without adequately consulting lawmakers or obtaining congressional approval.
Trump has defended the military campaign as necessary to protect American interests, prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and weaken Tehran’s ability to support terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East.
The president has also recently signaled that the conflict could be nearing its conclusion.
Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, Trump said the United States was seeking a “total victory.”
“When this conflict is over, and it will be soon, the entire world will be a much safer and better place,” Trump said. Trump has simultaneously indicated that he sees less need for negotiations with Tehran.
“We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed,” Trump wrote Thursday while directing Vice President JD Vance to focus more heavily on alleged corruption in Democrat-run states and cities.
The four senators nevertheless want Congress to assert greater authority over continued military spending.
Their position could inject the Iran conflict directly into upcoming negotiations over federal appropriations.
Washington recently emerged from a bruising government funding battle, making the possibility of another shutdown particularly politically sensitive.
Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs when her helicopter was attacked in 2004, has been among the Senate Democrats most critical of the administration’s Iran strategy.
Sanders has repeatedly argued that Trump lacks congressional authorization for the conflict and has supported efforts to limit the president’s war-making authority.
Van Hollen, who announced Thursday that he is challenging Chuck Schumer for the Senate Democratic leadership position, has also increasingly criticized the administration’s foreign policy.
Bennet joined the group in demanding that Congress have a direct vote on further financing for the war.
The senators did not say they would oppose all government funding legislation under every circumstance.
Their warning specifically targets a package that provides what they characterize as continued unrestricted financing for military operations in Iran.
That distinction leaves room for negotiations over how Congress structures defense and war-related spending.
Republicans could attempt to separate Iran funding from broader appropriations legislation or challenge Democrats to vote against a package containing funding for numerous federal agencies and programs.
The White House could also push lawmakers to maintain military funding while negotiations over ending the conflict continue.
Trump has argued repeatedly that the United States is succeeding against Iran and that maintaining pressure is necessary to secure a favorable outcome.
The four senators are now making clear that continued congressional financing cannot be assumed.
With another funding deadline approaching, the dispute over presidential war powers could become one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a spending agreement.
