Rep. Salud Carbajal Joins Push to Block Unauthorized Iran War Funds

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has officially endorsed the No Funds for Iran War Act introduced by Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18). This legislation seeks to prohibit any additional taxpayer dollars from being used for military operations against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes such action through an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or a formal declaration of war.

Carbajal has been a consistent critic of the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, which has involved military escalation without proper Congressional consent. His support for this bill underscores a broader pushback against the executive branch’s tendency to bypass legislative oversight on matters of war.

During the April 29 House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense’s FY27 budget request, Carbajal pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the financial and strategic costs of the ongoing conflict in Iran. His questions reflected deep concerns about unchecked military spending and the lack of clear objectives or legal authority for the war.

This legislative effort aligns with Carbajal’s history of voting for War Powers Resolutions aimed at reining in unauthorized military actions. The No Funds for Iran War Act represents a crucial attempt by Congress to reclaim its constitutional role in decisions about war and peace, pushing back against the Trump administration’s pattern of sidestepping democratic accountability.

As the debate over U.S. involvement in Iran intensifies, Carbajal’s stance sends a clear message: Congress must have the final say before American lives and taxpayer dollars are committed to foreign conflicts.