Questions mount in Congress over Iran war's costs, risks and exit plan

Lawmakers demand answers over the strategy, exit plan and costs to Americans in lives and dollars in what is quickly becoming a widening Middle East conflict.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Tensions flared as questions mounted at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday over the Trump administration's shifting rationale for war with Iran. Lawmakers are demanding answers over the strategy, exit plan and costs to Americans in lives and dollars in what is quickly becoming a widening Middle East conflict. The sudden pivot to a U.S. wartime footing has disrupted the political and policy agenda on Capitol Hill and raised uneasy questions about the risks ahead for a prolonged conflict and regime change after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Why it matters

The turn of events has intensified the push in Congress for a war powers resolution, one of the most consequential votes a lawmaker can take, as the administration officials are telling lawmakers it will need supplemental funds to pay for the conflict. It comes at the start of a highly competitive midterm election season that will test Trump's slim GOP control of Congress.

The details

Trump officials arrived at the Capitol for a second day of closed-door briefings, this time with all members of the House and Senate as the administration tries to stave off a looming war powers resolution vote intended to restrict Trump's ability to continue the joint U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Defense official Elbridge Colby told senators the president directed the military campaign to destroy Iranian missiles and deny the country nuclear weapons. Questions are growing over who will lead Iran after the death of Khamenei, who has ruled the country for decades, as are worries of a leadership vacuum that creates unrest.

  • On Tuesday, Trump officials arrived at the Capitol for closed-door briefings with all members of the House and Senate.
  • The administration is trying to stave off a looming war powers resolution vote.

The players

Marco Rubio

Secretary of State.

Angus King

Independent senator from Maine.

Elbridge Colby

Defense official.

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic senator from Massachusetts.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader and Republican.

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What they’re saying

“There is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump's watch.”

— Marco Rubio, Secretary of State (ksgf.com)

“It's very disturbing that Trump took the U.S. to war because Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to bomb Iran. Past U.S. presidents, he said, 'have consistently said, 'No.''”

— Angus King, Independent senator from Maine (ksgf.com)

“How about we say, 'Thank you, Mr. President, for finally getting rid of this nuisance,'”

— Markwayne Mullin, Republican senator from Oklahoma (ksgf.com)

“I am more fearful than ever we may be putting boots on the ground”

— Richard Blumenthal, Democratic senator from Connecticut (ksgf.com)

“If he wants to declare war on Iran, that is the job and responsibility of Congress under the Constitution.”

— Kirsten Gillibrand, Democratic senator from New York (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The House and Senate are preparing to vote on war powers resolutions that would restrain Trump's ability to continue waging war on Iran without approval from Congress.

The takeaway

This conflict has raised significant concerns in Congress over the administration's shifting rationale, exit plan, and the potential costs to Americans in lives and dollars. Lawmakers are demanding more clarity and oversight, as the war powers debate highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches over the decision to go to war.