Democratic Midterm Wins Trigger Deadline for US to End Iran War

Democratic leaders plan to use their new congressional control to end US military operations in Iran by cutting off funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the party will likely attach a provision to the next continuing resolution that bars money for combat operations off Iran's shores. This strategy mirrors the method Congress used to end the Vietnam War. President Donald Trump can veto the measure, but doing so risks a government shutdown that would likely fall on his political shoulders.

The push follows Tuesday's midterm elections, which produced a large Democratic victory in the House and Senate. Trump cited domestic anger over the Iran war and its impact on prices as a key reason for the losses. Vice President JD Vance named the war and the US-Israel relationship as two of four factors driving the result. On election day, Trump announced that US aid to Israel would stop at the end of the year, a move that may force a diplomatic exit before the new Congress is sworn in on January 3.

Congress currently allocates a $3.8 billion annual aid package to Israel. Even if the current memorandum of understanding remains in place through 2028, lawmakers can end the funding in 2027. Joel Braunold, managing director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, suggested redirecting leftover funds to the Office of the US Security Coordinator. He also predicted Congress will investigate the Trump-chaired Board of Peace for postwar Gaza, focusing on Jared Kushner's business ties.

In Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid proposed a diplomatic reset on Wednesday. He argued that Israel should stop choosing sides in US politics and instead conduct a listening tour across the country. "Israel doesn't choose sides in America. We work with everyone," Lapid wrote. He described the US as waiting for Israel to come back and talk.

Newly elected Democratic member Brad Lander rejected the listening tour idea. He said the party wants to see respect for international law and human rights. Lander called for the release of Arab Israeli journalist Abed Abou Shahadeh, who was detained this week without a warrant after an interview in Qatar. Lander, who was briefly detained by the IDF in the West Bank last month, stated that the party is "hungry to see respect for international law and human rights."

Jordan Acker, a Democratic Jewish elected official in Michigan, warned that Israelis underestimate voter anger over the treatment of Palestinians. He advised that when in a hole, the first step is to stop digging. Former ambassador Dan Shapiro argued that changing the dynamic requires removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called the prime minister "poison" to many Americans. Some analysts suggested Gadi Eisenkot could form a minority government, but Eisenkot has ruled out that path in favor of a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties.

The scale of the Democratic win may moderate some policy shifts. With a projected 250 House seats, progressives will have less leverage to pull the agenda far left. A Democratic congressional aide noted that few members are opposed to punitive steps against extremist settlers. Vance has told aides he blames Netanyahu for encouraging the war in February with optimistic predictions that did not hold up. Braunold said Democrats now want Israel to align with their values and stop acting as an irritant to US policy.