Sanders Bill Would Bar Trump From Using Federal Funds for 'Illegal War With Iran'
"Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu's war of choice," said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Iranians aid injured people following an Israeli strike on downtown Tehran on June 15, 2025.
(Photo: ASAD/Middle East Images via AFP)
Jake Johnson
Jun 17, 2025
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders late Monday led the introduction of a bill that would prevent the Trump administration from using federal funds for a military attack on Iran without explicit authorization from Congress, as Israel's unlawful assault on the country continued for the fifth consecutive day.
"Netanyahu's reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war," Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement. "Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu's war of choice."
"Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people's elected representatives in Congress," the senator added, "and it is imperative that we make clear that the president has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress."
Seven Democratic senators—Peter Welch (Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), and Tina Smith (Minn.)—joined Sanders in introducing the legislation, which is titled the No War Against Iran Act.
The legislation states that "no federal funds may be obligated or expended for any use of military force in or against Iran" unless Congress declares war or enacts "specific statutory authorization for such use of military force."
"Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars, and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement," Sanders said Monday. "I will do everything that I can as a senator to defend the Constitution and prevent the U.S. from being drawn into another war."
The bill came hours after Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a war powers resolution similarly aimed at preventing the Trump administration from launching an unauthorized attack on Iran. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) announced plans to introduce a companion resolution in the House, a sign of burgeoning congressional opposition to a U.S. war with Iran.
"This is not our war," Massie wrote on social media. "But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I'm introducing a bipartisan war powers resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement."
The legislative efforts kicked off as Israel expanded its aerial attacks on Iran and as Trump—who has suggested U.S. forces could get more deeply involved in the conflict—urged residents of the Iranian capital to "immediately evacuate," heightening chaos and panic in the densely populated city and fueling concerns of American intervention.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) condemned Trump's evacuation call as "both reckless and disturbing," noting that "Tehran is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to ten million people and many millions more in the surrounding suburbs."
"While many have tried to flee Israel's campaign of terror, the fact is that many cannot flee—the elderly, or those who can't get gas amid war shortages, and those who have nowhere to go," said NIAC. "We hope that this does not mean an unauthorized U.S. entry into the war, or that he has knowledge of further depraved attacks from Israel."
"There is a choice before Trump: take the pathway of peace by telling Bibi to stop the war, or join with a war criminal and wreak further havoc and endanger U.S. troops in a fight that isn't ours," the group added.
"Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu's war of choice," said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Iranians aid injured people following an Israeli strike on downtown Tehran on June 15, 2025.
(Photo: ASAD/Middle East Images via AFP)
Jake Johnson
Jun 17, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders late Monday led the introduction of a bill that would prevent the Trump administration from using federal funds for a military attack on Iran without explicit authorization from Congress, as Israel's unlawful assault on the country continued for the fifth consecutive day.
"Netanyahu's reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war," Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement. "Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu's war of choice."
"Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people's elected representatives in Congress," the senator added, "and it is imperative that we make clear that the president has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress."
Seven Democratic senators—Peter Welch (Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), and Tina Smith (Minn.)—joined Sanders in introducing the legislation, which is titled the No War Against Iran Act.
The legislation states that "no federal funds may be obligated or expended for any use of military force in or against Iran" unless Congress declares war or enacts "specific statutory authorization for such use of military force."
"Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars, and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement," Sanders said Monday. "I will do everything that I can as a senator to defend the Constitution and prevent the U.S. from being drawn into another war."
The bill came hours after Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a war powers resolution similarly aimed at preventing the Trump administration from launching an unauthorized attack on Iran. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) announced plans to introduce a companion resolution in the House, a sign of burgeoning congressional opposition to a U.S. war with Iran.
"This is not our war," Massie wrote on social media. "But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I'm introducing a bipartisan war powers resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement."
The legislative efforts kicked off as Israel expanded its aerial attacks on Iran and as Trump—who has suggested U.S. forces could get more deeply involved in the conflict—urged residents of the Iranian capital to "immediately evacuate," heightening chaos and panic in the densely populated city and fueling concerns of American intervention.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) condemned Trump's evacuation call as "both reckless and disturbing," noting that "Tehran is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to ten million people and many millions more in the surrounding suburbs."
"While many have tried to flee Israel's campaign of terror, the fact is that many cannot flee—the elderly, or those who can't get gas amid war shortages, and those who have nowhere to go," said NIAC. "We hope that this does not mean an unauthorized U.S. entry into the war, or that he has knowledge of further depraved attacks from Israel."
"There is a choice before Trump: take the pathway of peace by telling Bibi to stop the war, or join with a war criminal and wreak further havoc and endanger U.S. troops in a fight that isn't ours," the group added.
"The president does not have the power to unilaterally declare war," asserted Rep. Summer Lee. "Congressional authorization isn't optional."
Members of the peace group CodePink march against war with Iran in this photo posted on June 12, 2025.
(Photo: CodePink)
Brett Wilkins
Jun 17, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
Numerous House progressives said Tuesday that they will support legislation that would force President Donald Trump to obtain congressional permission to wage war on Iran, a development that followed Monday's introduction of two Senate measures aimed at stopping Trump from dragging the United States into the widening Israel-Iran war.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Tuesday introduced legislation affirming the legal requirement under the War Powers Resolution of 1973—also known as the War Powers Act—for the president to notify lawmakers within 48 hours of committing troops to military action and limiting such action to 60 days, with a 30-day withdrawal period, unless Congress declares war or issues an authorization for the use of military force.
"The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn't attacked the United States," Massie explained in a statement. "Congress has the sole power to declare war against Iran. The ongoing war between Israel and Iran is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution."
In a post on the social media site X, Massie thanked the resolution's co-sponsors, all of them Democrats: Don Beyer (Va.), Greg Casar (Texas), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Jesús "Chuy" García (Ill.), Val Hoyle (Ore.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Summer Lee (Pa.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Delia Ramirez (Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), and Nydia Velazquez (N.Y.).
More lawmakers—possibly including Republicans—are expected to sign on to the measure.
"The president does not have the power to unilaterally declare war. Congressional authorization isn't optional," Lee said on social media. "When some profit both financially and politically from endless war, the rest of us pay the price. We can't let them lie us into another conflict that will cost innocent lives."
Tlaib asserted that "the American people aren't falling for it again. We were lied to about 'weapons of mass destruction' in Iraq that killed millions [and] forever changed lives."
The progressive political action committee Justice Democrats welcomed Massie's measure: "Here's an opportunity for bipartisanship that doesn't sell out the American people. Every member of Congress should oppose U.S. involvement, funding, weapons, or troops fighting another endless war in the Middle East."
The House proposal follows Monday's introduction of a war powers resolution by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and bill by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would prevent the Trump administration from using federal funds for a military attack on Iran without congressional approval. It also echoes a 2020 resolution proposed in the then-Democrat-controlled House that would have banned Trump from waging war on Iran without lawmakers' approval.
Explaining her support for Massie's legislation, Omar said, "I support this resolution because the American people do not want another war."
Indeed, an Economist/YouGov poll published Tuesday revealed that only 16% of surveyed voters "think the U.S. should get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran." Just 10% of respondents who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris last year and 19% of 2024 Trump voters want the U.S. to wage war on Iran, as do 15% of self-described Democrats, 11% of Independents, and 23% of Republicans.
A separate survey commissioned by Demand Progress and conducted by the Bullfinch Group recently found that 53% of registered voters—including 58% of Democrats, 47% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans—want Trump to "obtain congressional authorization before striking targets in other countries."
"We applaud Rep. Massie and Sen. Kaine for introducing these resolutions to keep us out of yet another war in the Middle East," Demand Progress senior policy adviser Cavan Kharrazian said Tuesday. "It should be in the interest of Republicans and Democrats to uphold the Constitution and prevent Israel from dragging us into a disastrous war with Iran."
"The American people, including a clear majority of Republican voters, believe the president must obtain congressional authorization before initiating strikes against another country," Kharrazian added. "Congress must listen to them and reassert its constitutional war powers authority by passing these resolutions."
Israel claims it attacked Iran to stop it from obtaining nuclear weapons. However, successive U.S. intelligence assessments have concluded for decades—most recently in March—that Iran is not trying to build nukes. On Tuesday, Trump brushed off his own director of national intelligence's findings that Iran is not close to having a nuclear bomb.
As Trump ratcheted up his cryptic threats against Tehran amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian counterstrikes, anti-war voices including the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the peace group CodePink urged restraint and negotiation to avert escalating the Mideast crisis.
NIAC, which is circulating a petition demanding Congress act to avert U.S. intervention, is planning to hold a Tuesday afternoon No War With Iran Action Hour co-hosted with Peace Action and Action Corps.
"Trump continues to renege on his own commitments to diplomacy and an end to wars by perpetuating [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's war of aggression through his own vocal support and U.S. military equipment and personnel in the region," NIAC said Tuesday. "Israel's assaults on Tehran have killed upwards of 224 Iranians and hospitalized over 1,277 more."
"Happening at the same time, in just the last day alone, Israeli forces have also killed at least 51 Palestinians desperate for aid and food at a World Food Program site in southern Gaza," NIAC noted. "There is no telling how much more devastation for Iran, Israel, and the U.S. an expanded war on Iran would bring."
"President Trump must immediately halt military aid and support for the Israel war on Iran," the group added, "and if he will not, Congress must act within its constitutional authority to save millions of American, Iranian, Israeli, and Palestinian lives."
David Hogg Says Any Democrat Who Supports War With Iran 'Should Be Primaried'
"Our generation grew up going through two multi-trillion dollar wars we should have never been involved in," said the youth organizer recently ousted by the DNC. "If you think this is a good idea read a history book."
David Hogg speaks onstage during the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024 at BMCC Tribeca PAC on September 17, 2024 in New York City.
(Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company
Julia Conley
Jun 17, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
With just a handful of Democratic lawmakers so far backing a push to prevent an overwhelmingly unpopular march to war with Iran, progressive organizer David Hogg on Tuesday said those who don't align themselves with the vast majority of Americans on the issue should face primary challenges in upcoming elections.
"Any Democrat who supports this war with Iran needs to be primaried," said Hogg, a gun control activist who briefly served as co-vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and angered leaders by pushing for primary challenges. "Our generation grew up going through two multi-trillion dollar wars we should have never been involved in. We are not fucking going back to that. If you think this is a good idea read a history book."
Hogg's comments came days after Israel launched sweeping attacks on Iran amid U.S.-Iran talks on the Middle Eastern country's nuclear development.
At least 224 people have been killed and 1,481 wounded since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began launching air strikes on hundreds of targets last Friday, including nuclear facilities and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting headquarters.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that American forces "could get involved" in the conflict between the two countries, and the U.S. military has already had "full and complete coordination" with the IDF, as one Israeli official said after the bombing campaign began in Iran last week, with American fighter jets reportedly "patrolling the sky" in the Middle East and dozens of Air Force refueling planes headed for Europe over the weekend.
The reports intensified concerns among progressives of more direct U.S. involvement in the conflict, and led to renewed calls for the Trump administration to end its support for Israel as the IDF also continued its U.S.-backed slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a war powers resolution to stop Trump from attacking Iran without congressional approval.
The resistance to war with the Middle Eastern country has bipartisan backing, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introducing a similar resolution in the House and garnering the support of progressive Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Don Beyer (D-Va.).
Zeteo reporter Prem Thakker said Monday evening that just over 2% of members of Congress have backed legislative efforts to stop the U.S. from expanding its involvement in Israel's bombardment of Iran—even as a Brookings Institution poll showed that more than two-thirds of Americans back diplomatic talks to limit Iran's nuclear program and just 14% of Americans support military action to stop Iranian nuclear development.
At the Center for International Policy, executive vice president Matt Duss said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly starting a "war of choice" with Iran "to sabotage diplomacy" regarding its nuclear program after having pushed Trump to "make the terrible mistake" of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
"Netanyahu has now outmaneuvered him to the severe detriment of U.S. interests and put American military and diplomatic personnel in harm’s way," said Duss. "Responsible lawmakers who prioritize American safety and security are rightly speaking out against Netanyahu’s irresponsible provocation, reflecting the views of an overwhelming majority of Americans who favor diplomacy over war to restrain Iran’s nuclear activities."
"Immediately ending this violence and finding a path back to viable negotiations should be the guiding priority for the U.S. government, rather than belligerent rhetoric and the continued supply of offensive weapons that enables yet another horrific conflict endangering millions," he added.
Lily Greenberg Call, a former Interior Department official who was appointed by former President Joe Biden but resigned in protest of his administration's support for Israel's assault on Gaza, condemned Democratic leaders for their "shameful fucking silence" on potential war with Iran.
"Most Americans, including their base, don't want the U.S. under Trump to go to war with Iran and have been horrified at almost two years of footage of murder in Gaza," said Greenberg Call. "We won't accept this and we won't forget in '26 and '28."
Hogg demanded that Democrats unite "against Trump and his war" and pointed out that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle regularly claim that broadly popular proposals for investments in effective programs like Medicare for All and universal childcare are unaffordable.
"Where are all the 'we can't afford it' politicians," asked Hogg, "now that we're on the brink of what could be another multi-trillion dollar war?"
"Our generation grew up going through two multi-trillion dollar wars we should have never been involved in," said the youth organizer recently ousted by the DNC. "If you think this is a good idea read a history book."
David Hogg speaks onstage during the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024 at BMCC Tribeca PAC on September 17, 2024 in New York City.
(Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company
Julia Conley
Jun 17, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
With just a handful of Democratic lawmakers so far backing a push to prevent an overwhelmingly unpopular march to war with Iran, progressive organizer David Hogg on Tuesday said those who don't align themselves with the vast majority of Americans on the issue should face primary challenges in upcoming elections.
"Any Democrat who supports this war with Iran needs to be primaried," said Hogg, a gun control activist who briefly served as co-vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and angered leaders by pushing for primary challenges. "Our generation grew up going through two multi-trillion dollar wars we should have never been involved in. We are not fucking going back to that. If you think this is a good idea read a history book."
Hogg's comments came days after Israel launched sweeping attacks on Iran amid U.S.-Iran talks on the Middle Eastern country's nuclear development.
At least 224 people have been killed and 1,481 wounded since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began launching air strikes on hundreds of targets last Friday, including nuclear facilities and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting headquarters.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that American forces "could get involved" in the conflict between the two countries, and the U.S. military has already had "full and complete coordination" with the IDF, as one Israeli official said after the bombing campaign began in Iran last week, with American fighter jets reportedly "patrolling the sky" in the Middle East and dozens of Air Force refueling planes headed for Europe over the weekend.
The reports intensified concerns among progressives of more direct U.S. involvement in the conflict, and led to renewed calls for the Trump administration to end its support for Israel as the IDF also continued its U.S.-backed slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a war powers resolution to stop Trump from attacking Iran without congressional approval.
The resistance to war with the Middle Eastern country has bipartisan backing, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introducing a similar resolution in the House and garnering the support of progressive Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Don Beyer (D-Va.).
Zeteo reporter Prem Thakker said Monday evening that just over 2% of members of Congress have backed legislative efforts to stop the U.S. from expanding its involvement in Israel's bombardment of Iran—even as a Brookings Institution poll showed that more than two-thirds of Americans back diplomatic talks to limit Iran's nuclear program and just 14% of Americans support military action to stop Iranian nuclear development.
At the Center for International Policy, executive vice president Matt Duss said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly starting a "war of choice" with Iran "to sabotage diplomacy" regarding its nuclear program after having pushed Trump to "make the terrible mistake" of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
"Netanyahu has now outmaneuvered him to the severe detriment of U.S. interests and put American military and diplomatic personnel in harm’s way," said Duss. "Responsible lawmakers who prioritize American safety and security are rightly speaking out against Netanyahu’s irresponsible provocation, reflecting the views of an overwhelming majority of Americans who favor diplomacy over war to restrain Iran’s nuclear activities."
"Immediately ending this violence and finding a path back to viable negotiations should be the guiding priority for the U.S. government, rather than belligerent rhetoric and the continued supply of offensive weapons that enables yet another horrific conflict endangering millions," he added.
Lily Greenberg Call, a former Interior Department official who was appointed by former President Joe Biden but resigned in protest of his administration's support for Israel's assault on Gaza, condemned Democratic leaders for their "shameful fucking silence" on potential war with Iran.
"Most Americans, including their base, don't want the U.S. under Trump to go to war with Iran and have been horrified at almost two years of footage of murder in Gaza," said Greenberg Call. "We won't accept this and we won't forget in '26 and '28."
Hogg demanded that Democrats unite "against Trump and his war" and pointed out that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle regularly claim that broadly popular proposals for investments in effective programs like Medicare for All and universal childcare are unaffordable.
"Where are all the 'we can't afford it' politicians," asked Hogg, "now that we're on the brink of what could be another multi-trillion dollar war?"
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