Sanders Pushes to Defund Iran War

Sen. Bernie Sanders says every Democratic member of Congress will back defunding the U.S. war with Iran.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Military

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a single silhouetted dome in deep red against cream, evoking national legislative debate over war funding. — Democratic lawmakers are moving to defund the U.S. war with Iran, with Sen. Bernie Sanders saying the party may shut down the government unless a negotiated settlement is reached. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Congress stop funding the war with Iran?

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said on MS NOW's All In that every Democratic member of Congress will support defunding the war with Iran. He also said Democrats may shut down the government unless a negotiated settlement to the war is reached.

Why it matters

Sanders said the war is a disaster and that some Republicans will also support defunding it, while suggesting President Trump may veto measures aimed at stopping the war. The position signals that war funding could become a central fight in federal budget negotiations.

The remarks, made Thursday, November 6, 2026, cite approximately 55 senators and more than 250 House members as the expected size of the caucus. No formal bill, vote count, or funding figure was provided in the broadcast, so the scope of any defunding measure remains unspecified.

The players

Bernie Sanders

Independent senator from Vermont who has long been a prominent progressive voice on foreign policy and military spending.

Donald Trump

Current President of the United States, who Sanders said may veto measures to stop the war with Iran.

The details

Speaking on MS NOW's All In with host Chris Hayes, Sanders said Democrats could vote to withhold war funding and, if necessary, let the government shut down unless a settlement is negotiated. He predicted some Republicans would join the effort.

Thursday, November 6, 2026: Sanders makes the defunding and shutdown remarks on All In.

Political Context

Sanders's proposal echoes the 2013 government shutdown over Affordable Care Act funding, when lawmakers tied appropriations to a contested policy. Opponents of the war-funding approach are likely to argue that cutting military money during active hostilities risks undermining troops and national security.

If Congress withholds war funding and a shutdown follows, federal services and paychecks could be disrupted. Any change to military spending would also affect defense contractors and service members' budgets.

The takeaway

Funding deadlines have become a powerful lever in Congress, and whether war spending is tied to a shutdown could shape how future military conflicts are financed.