Following a midterm election cycle that many have described as a generational defeat for the Republican Party, Democrats are preparing to utilize their newly secured control of both houses of Congress to challenge President Donald Trump’s foreign policy agenda. The incoming legislative majority is expected to focus its efforts on investigating Pentagon contractors, scrutinizing diplomatic relationships with allies such as Israel, and exerting leverage over the administration through its control of the federal budget. Democrats had little success in 2019 restraining Trump from unpopular foreign policy decisions like an abrupt withdrawal from Syria that abandoned Kurdish allies or to end his support for the Saudi war in Yemen. When Congress managed to pass a bipartisan resolution that invoked the War Powers Act to end US support for these conflicts, it faced significant executive resistance.
The political landscape has been significantly altered by voter frustration, with many Americans casting ballots in opposition to Trump's international decisions, particularly regarding tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran, which have been linked to inflationary pressures. Internal tensions within the Republican Party have surfaced, with Vice President JD Vance attributing the election results directly to the conflict in Iran. While Donald Trump Jr. expressed agreement with Vance’s assessment, President Trump maintained that the conflict was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, even as he acknowledged its impact on fuel prices. Still, the elections have upended the status quo for foreign policy in both parties, and Trump will increasingly face pressure from his own allies to end the war in Iran. Vance, in his public statement about the elections, prescribed his cure for what is ailing the Republican party: “1) End the war 2) Focus on cost of living 3) Secure the border 4) Restore American manufacturing.” Given that the midterm elections have concluded, the President may feel less constrained by voter sentiment as he looks to solidify his legacy.
Despite their legislative majorities, Democrats face the reality that President Trump retains veto power, making it difficult to force policy changes through traditional legislation. Instead, the strategy involves using the budget as a primary tool for constraint. Ryan Crocker, a former career diplomat and fellow at the Middle East Institute, noted that the Pentagon's request for increased funding for the war in Iran is a likely initial battleground. Democrats have an opportunity to exert pressure during the December lame-duck session, when government funding through a continuing resolution is set to expire. Furthermore, they may hold up the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes approximately $1.15 trillion in defense spending for 2027, to demand concessions on Iran or restrictions on presidential authority.
Some progressive thinktanks have proposed adding language to the continuing resolution to restrict funds for the war in Iran, as well as operations in Yemen, Gaza, and Lebanon. However, experts warn that the risk of a government shutdown remains a significant concern. Past attempts by Congress to limit presidential foreign policy, such as the effort to end support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen through the War Powers Act, were thwarted by presidential vetoes. Analysts like Jennifer Hendrixson White of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggest that while congressional investigations into defense contracts or the Iran war could embarrass the administration, converting these efforts into concrete policy constraints remains a difficult challenge.
Meanwhile, the political debate continues to evolve. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, the first sitting Muslim senator, expressed support for the President’s stated goal of ending military aid to Israel, while calling for a broader cessation of arms sales that contribute to humanitarian crises. As the new Congress prepares to take office, the focus remains on how effectively the legislative branch can translate its investigative power into real-world influence over executive actions in the foreign policy sphere.
“Long term, it’s the only answer,” he said. “You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” Seeing little left to lose, he may resume strikes in the upcoming months, seeking to secure his legacy with fewer concerns about voter backlash with the midterms already passed.
