‘Cut Off Funding’: US Lawmakers Criticise Trump Over Iran War and Price Hikes

WASHINGTON: A growing number of US lawmakers have criticised President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, raising concerns over American casualties, plans to deploy more troops and the impact of the conflict on the US economy.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned against the administration’s reported plans to increase the US military presence in the region.

“The President, who continues to hide service member casualties, is now sending up to another 10,000 troops to his illegal war of choice in Iran,” Van Hollen wrote on X. “When Trump says he’s planning on renewing his war next month, believe him. Congress must cut off funding.”

His comments followed reports that the Pentagon is preparing to send a third aircraft carrier strike group and additional Marine Corps ships to the Middle East.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the deployment could bring an additional 9,000 to 10,000 US troops to the region by the end of November, as Trump reportedly considers resuming strikes on Iran after the early November midterm elections.

Calls to impeach Pete Hegseth

Representative James Walkinshaw also called for the impeachment of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing American casualties and concerns over military morale.

“Pete Hegseth is a culture warrior, not a Secretary of Defense,” Walkinshaw wrote. “He calls journalists traitors and trashes service members he doesn’t like. Meanwhile, our troops are being killed and wounded by the hundreds in a war he’s losing in Iran. It’s past time to impeach him. I’m a yes.”

Lawmakers have also raised concerns about the economic impact of the war, particularly rising energy and consumer prices.

Senator Chris Murphy said the conflict had contributed to higher inflation and increased fuel costs.

“You see it most clearly in gas prices, but the rising price of diesel—nearly twice what it was before the war—is increasing the cost of everything,” Murphy said.

US diesel prices recently reached $6.53 per gallon. G7 countries have also agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks in an effort to ease pressure on energy prices.

Senator Elizabeth Warren also linked the conflict to higher housing costs.

“BREAKING: Trump’s war in Iran is making it even more expensive to buy a home,” Warren posted.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticised the administration’s economic policies and the war.

“Inflation is up, job creation is down and the reckless war of choice in Iran has been a disaster. Republicans have crashed the economy. We continue to fight for an Affordable America.”

The criticism from lawmakers comes as the US administration faces growing concerns over the military and economic costs of the conflict.

Reports of a possible deployment of thousands of additional troops and a third carrier strike group have further increased political debate in Washington ahead of the November midterm elections.