President Donald Trump needs billions of dollars in additional funding to sustain his war against Iran — but accessing those funds could be complicated in the wake of the Republicans’ overwhelming defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The president has just weeks left before Democrats take control of Congress, leaving little time to convince Republican lawmakers to approve new Pentagon funding so that, whatever form the next phase of the war takes, he has the funds to ensure it happens.
B-1B Lancer 2025 National Security Journal. Image Credit: Harry J. Kazianis/NSJ.
B-1B Lancer at USAF Museum in July 2025. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
According to reporting from The Hill on Friday, November 6, Republican leaders are pessimistic about the chances of passing the president’s remaining legislative priorities, even with plans in place to push through a major defense funding package and other measures before the end of the year.
Passing measures could prove difficult, with Republicans also skeptical of the president in the wake of the midterm defeat.
There’s another problem for the president, too: Democrats are already exploring their options to stop the war by using their congressional majority, including the possibility of blocking additional funding for military operations against Iran.
It comes as the Trump administration reportedly prepares to launch another major round of strikes against Tehran.
And now, the White House may have just weeks to finish what it started — or face major embarrassment as Democrats stop it from continuing operations through the new year.
Republicans Are Running Out Of Time
Republican legislators had hoped to pass new Pentagon funding through budget reconciliation, bypassing a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.
After Tuesday’s elections, however, even Republican congressional aides are reportedly questioning whether they even have the votes to achieve it.
Speaking to The Hill, one Republican aide said that the process would be difficult.
Another questioned whether House Republicans would even return to Washington in sufficient numbers, and quickly enough, to pass the legislation anyway.
It is a particularly troubling situation for the White House because Republicans have only a narrow majority in the House until January.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., flies over the East China Sea, Jan. 9, 2018. The Lancer serves as premier platform for America’s long-range bomber force, carrying the largest conventional payload of guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft)
A B-1B Lancer prepares to return to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, during Bomber Task Force 25-2 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2025. BTF missions provide opportunities to train and work with our allies and partners in joint and combined operations and exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mattison Cole)
Some members could be so disillusioned with the president’s war, and so worried about a political reckoning in the next election, that they don’t want to take part in any efforts to secure funding for Trump’s war.
Republicans now have a total of five weeks with Congress in session to approve defense spending before Democrats take control, and according to Capital Alpha Partners analyst Byron Callan, the likelihood of another defense reconciliation package passing Congress has fallen to just 10%.
What Trump does next —and indeed what he does if he cannot secure the funding he needs to end the war—is extremely difficult to predict.
The Iran War Has Cost $47 Billion
Not only is the Pentagon facing the likelihood of a significant reduction in war funding, but it has already incurred substantial costs.
U.S. Central Command said in mid-October that the conflict had already cost $47.1 billion. $29 billion of that was used to replace expended munitions and $6.1 billion to replace destroyed military hardware. And the costs don’t end there.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the conflict could cost as much as $3 billion every month, not accounting for additional expenses that would arise if President Trump authorizes the resumption of major strikes against Iran.
The Trump administration is also requesting $67 billion in supplemental defense funding to cover war-related expenses, as well as its broader defense spending plans.
But none of the administration’s three major defense funding requests has been approved yet, creating a major problem for the president — particularly as Pentagon officials are already warning about a serious shortage of weapons and missiles.
The Trick Dems May Use to Stop Trump
The Democrats are reportedly considering using a strategy that was previously used to restrict U.S. military operations during the Vietnam War to force President Trump to concede and allow Tehran to win the war.
Reports from Friday describe how Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Ro Khanna are urging Congress to prohibit spending on military operations against Iran, including any of the money already appropriated.
The strategy would be this: Democrats attach a funding prohibition to government spending legislation, similar to what passed in July 1973, which prevented spending previously approved funds on combat operations in Southeast Asia after August 15. That measure ended U.S. bombing in Cambodia.
A 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancer flies over the East China Sea May 6, 2020, during a training mission. The 9th EBS is deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of a Bomber Task Force supporting Pacific Air Forces’ strategic deterrence missions and commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman River Bruce)
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, November 1, Khanna said that Congress should move to stop all spending on strikes against Iran.
On November 6, Van Hollen also told The Washington Sun that Democrats were discussing prohibiting the use of existing funds. Khanna even urged Democrats to risk a government shutdown by withholding support for the December 11 funding bill unless it includes the restrictions.
Trump, then, needs to move fast — but even then, he may not be able to secure the funds he needs to finish the job in the way he may be envisioning.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
