NO FUNDS FOR IRAN WAR: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LEADS DEMOCRATIC VETERANS, HOUSE COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCTION OF IRAN WAR FUNDING PROHIBITION
NO FUNDS FOR IRAN WAR: Congressman Pat Ryan Leads Democratic Veterans, House Colleagues in Introduction of Iran War Funding Prohibition
Congressman Ryan’s bill prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for military action against Iran in the absence of an AUMF or official declaration of war; it is supported by 14 of his fellow Democratic Veterans, as well as the Ranking Members of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committees
The introduction comes after 9 weeks of hostilities conducted without Congressional approval, costing billions of dollars and killing 13 brave U.S. servicemembers
It also follows the Pentagon’s budget request for $1.5 trillion in funding for FY27 – not including a reported supplemental funding request of $200 billion for the Iran War
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan – an Iraq War combat veteran and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress – led 17 of his Democratic colleagues, including 14 fellow veterans and the Ranking Members of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committees, in introducing a funding prohibition on military action against Iran.
For nine weeks, the Trump administration has waged war in Iran without Congressional approval, which has cost at least $25 billion, killed 13 brave U.S. servicemembers and wounded hundreds more, and caused prices to skyrocket at home. The introduction also follows the Pentagon’s request for $1.5 trillion in funding for FY27 – not including a reported Iran War supplemental funding request of $200 billion.
Ryan’s bill, the No Funds for Iran War Act, would prohibit the use of additional taxpayer funds for military action against Iran in the absence of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or official declaration of war from Congress.
“The American people have been clear from the beginning: they want lower costs and no more forever wars. The Trump administration has spent nine weeks conducting an illegal war in Iran that has done the exact opposite – and every American is paying the price,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Their recklessness has killed 13 brave servicemembers, wounded hundreds more, cost at least $25 billion in taxpayer money, and sent gas prices skyrocketing here at home. Since Day 1, there has been no strategy or endgame. Not a single dollar more on this ill-conceived war.”
“Trump’s war of choice has achieved none of the administration’s stated objectives and has surpassed the president’s initial stated timeline of the conflict, which was supposed to last only a few weeks. Now that the president is moving the goal posts and twisting the 60-day requirements of the War Powers Act, Congress must take action. It is time for it to exercise its constitutional power of the purse,” said Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“Trump’s Iran war was never authorized by Congress, and no funds appropriated by Congress should be spent on this illegal conflict,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The American people don’t want this administration spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a new forever war in the Middle East that is already driving up the costs of everything from gas to groceries. I thank Rep. Ryan for his leadership introducing this bill.”
“Donald Trump believes he can continue to wage an unconstitutional war at the expense of American taxpayers, but at the end of the day Congress still holds the purse strings and will be the final authority on our long-term military action overseas,” said Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “I know that my Republican colleagues are hearing, as I am, from their constituents who are seeing their gas and grocery prices rise by the week, and I hope that they will join us in limiting this illegal spending, restoring Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war and refocusing on delivering lower prices for the American people.”
“We are a nation of laws, and the Constitution gives the American People and the Congress—not the president—the power to spend public money,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Americans at home are struggling to pay bills and afford their lives. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Iran War is wasting American lives and billions on a war we didn’t have to fight. Too many in Congress will not grow a spine to assert our War Powers, yet another reason why we need to pass the No Funds for Iran War Act. Let’s stop funneling billions into this reckless war and bring our troops home.”
“Congress should not fund an illegal war. The Constitution is clear: only Congress has the power to authorize war, and Congress never approved the use of military force against Iran,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “This bill makes unmistakably clear that we will not support an illegal war by providing taxpayer funding for it. Doing so would undermine one of the Founders’ core principles: that Congress, and by extension the American people, must decide when our nation goes to war.”
“Trump started his illegal war in Iran without rhyme or reason, and the results have been nothing short of disastrous,” said Rep. Carbajal. “His war has cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars while driving up the cost of essentials like groceries and gas. I’m supporting Congressman Ryan’s No Funds for Iran War Act because Americans should not be forced to foot the bill for an endless, unauthorized conflict.”
“We do not write blank checks for unauthorized wars in the United States of America,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. “Our commonsense bill will restore the basic accountability and sanity that the American people need and deserve from our government.”
“Over sixty days into the Trump Administration’s reckless war of choice in Iran, thirteen American soldiers have lost their lives, and our children will be saddled with the global consequences and a multi-billion-dollar debt. Instead of bringing Iran closer to a free and democratic future, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have destroyed the lives and livelihoods of thousands of civilians in their failure to act with transparency, measured diplomacy, and thoughtful justification. The Trump Administration's impulsive, unilateral military actions, without the consent of the American people, are further destabilizing an already volatile region. I stand firmly with my fellow Democratic Veterans in Congress to demand a halt in funds for this reckless war and reassert Congressional authority over war-making powers. I will not accept another forever war,” said Representative Derek Tran (CA-45).
“I won’t vote for a dime to continue this illegal war with Iran. It’s clear that President Trump has no endgame and no strategy,” said Congressman Crow. “Republicans must stop enabling this illegal war that has already killed 13 American servicemembers, cost us tens of billions in taxpayer dollars, and raised gas prices at home.”
The legislation is co-sponsored by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), and Ryan’s fellow Democratic Veteran Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Bobby Scott (D-VA).
Congressman Ryan has been a consistent opponent of unconstitutional action against Iran, and has repeatedly voted in favor of War Powers Resolutions, citing both the monetary and human costs of continuing down an escalatory path without a long-term plan or end goal. Last week, Ryan questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the Iranian drone strike on U.S. troops at Port Shuaiba, which killed six soldiers and wounded 30 others on March 1. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe using military force against Iran was a mistake, making Trump’s war as unpopular among Americans as the Iraq War during the peak of violence in 2006 and the Vietnam War in the early 1970s.
Ryan is a U.S. Army veteran, served two combat tours in Iraq, and is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Amid recent threats to veterans’ benefits, national security concerns, and rising threats worldwide, Congressman Ryan led his fellow veterans in Congress to create the Democratic Veterans Caucus. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and has led extensive legislation to deliver relief for veterans, service members, and military families.
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