Curtis: No Iran war funding past 60 days without Congress
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- Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said Wednesday he will not support the U.S.-Israeli military offensive in Iran after 60 days without congressional approval, writing in the Deseret News and invoking the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
- Curtis argued the Iran conflict is "a long-standing, well-organized and well-funded campaign against American lives and interests" — not an "emerging threat" — and that the 60-day War Powers window is "fully sufficient" before Congress must weigh in.
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair, backed Curtis, writing on X that "only Congress can declare war" and that he will not consider voting for military funding without an AUMF first.
- President Trump has not formally requested a declaration of war, with his administration arguing the operation is "near completion" — even as Trump threatened Wednesday to send Iran "back to the stone ages" absent a deal.
- House Republicans defeated an initial war powers resolution after the offensive began Feb. 28, with only Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) breaking ranks; Democrats are now recruiting additional GOP votes for a post-recess retry.
- Curtis said he would support a supplemental to "replenish U.S. stockpiles, strengthen the defense industrial base and maintain the capabilities needed to deter China" — drawing a deliberate line between preparedness spending and combat funding.
Why it matters: Curtis's break gives Democrats their first Senate Republican backer on war powers — a constitutional pressure point they previously lacked after the House resolution failed in February with only Massie and Davidson crossing over. The 60-day clock that Curtis cites has been running since the Feb. 28 launch, meaning the fight over authorization now has a hard deadline rather than being an abstract debate. If even one more Senate Republican joins Curtis, the administration faces a direct vote on whether to seek a formal war declaration.
