House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was asked on Thursday whether Democrats would risk a government shutdown to force an end to the war in Iran. He did not directly answer.
Speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, the New York Democrat said House Democrats oppose sending "any additional money" for the war, but he did not say whether he would risk a shutdown. Government funding expires on Dec. 11, which leaves Congress a few weeks to pass a stopgap.
The question matters because a funding fight tied to a war is a different matter from a fight over a spending line, and the Democratic leader has left his options open.
What Jeffries Said, and What He Didn't
According to the Washington Examiner, Jeffries made clear that his priority is ending the conflict. "We need to end the reckless and costly war of choice in Iran," he said.
On the shutdown option itself, he did not give a direct answer. Newsmax reported that he deferred funding negotiations to Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. The Denver Gazette and The Hill also name DeLauro in connection with the talks.
Newsmax also reported that Democrats have yet to decide whether to risk a shutdown. No outlet has reported a formal party position either way.
Four Senators Draw a Harder Line
Newsmax reported that Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois issued a joint statement Thursday opposing year-end funding that does not restrict President Trump's war powers. That account rests on Newsmax alone.
"We must refuse to invoke cloture on any package that includes another cent for his war," the senators wrote, according to Newsmax.
The Royal Examiner reported that a Senate stopgap needs at least 60 votes. Yournews, a lower-confidence outlet, described a separate warning from Senate Democrats that they will not accept a stopgap lacking language that bars funds for Iran hostilities. Whether that group is the same four senators has not been confirmed.
The Midterm Backdrop
Exit polls suggested the war and gas prices helped Democrats in the midterms, though the Washington Examiner attributes that view to pundits and exit polls generally. The Denver Gazette reported that Democrats will hold at least 255 House seats in 2027, citing the Associated Press, which has 12 seats still uncalled. That count could change.
The Hill reported that a short-term funding patch approved Sept. 1 pushed the deadline past the midterms. Democrats are expected to take the House majority in January.
What Happens Next
The deadline is Dec. 11. DeLauro in the House and Murray in the Senate are reported to be leading appropriations talks. The open questions are whether Jeffries will commit to voting against a stopgap that funds the war without restrictions, how the Senate vote count looks, and how the Trump administration responds. None of those has been answered in the reporting so far.
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