# Democrats Thwart Trump’s Foreign Policy

> Democrats gain leverage to stop Trump’s Iran war and boat strikes via funding cuts.
- Title: Democrats Thwart Trump’s Foreign Policy · Foreign Policy
- Summary: Democrats gain leverage to stop Trump’s Iran war and boat strikes via funding cuts.
- Keywords: u.s. congress, iran war, boat strikes, midterm elections, house democratic leader, senate democratic leader, funding cuts, oversight committee, trump administration, venezuelan president nicolás maduro, Foreign Policy
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/04/midterm-election-results-democrats-congress-trump-iran-war-oversight
- Author: John Haltiwanger
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: u.s. congress, iran war, boat strikes, midterm elections, house democratic leader, senate democratic leader, funding cuts, oversight committee, trump administration, venezuelan president nicolás maduro
## Democrats win midterm majorities
Democrats secured majorities in the House and Senate during Tuesday’s midterm elections with nationwide upsets.
## Trump bypassed Congress on foreign policy
Trump frequently took major military action without congressional approval, including launching the Iran war and ordering strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats.
## Democrats control appropriations committees
Democrats will oversee military and foreign aid spending bills, giving them leverage to cut Iran war funding.
## Funding cuts could end Iran war
Brian Finucane, a State Department former advisor, said attaching a funding prohibition to legislation would force an end to the Iran war or boat strikes.
## Historical precedent for funding leverage
Congress nearly forced a government shutdown in 1973 to end Nixon’s bombing of Cambodia, a model for Democrats to use funding to stop Trump’s actions.
## U.S. bases in Gulf damaged by Iran
U.S. bases in the Gulf have been heavily hit by Iran, requiring rebuilding or relocation decisions.
## Democrats push for Middle East policy shift
Democrats will use funding to decide whether to rebuild damaged U.S. bases or move them elsewhere in the Middle East.
## Ukraine aid funding at stake
Democrats aim to speed up Ukraine aid packages, which have historically garnered bipartisan support.
## Trump vows to veto Democratic legislation
Trump has vowed to veto Democratic legislation he opposes, making it hard for Democrats to override his vetoes.
## Oversight committee powers
Democrats will control oversight committees to launch investigations into Trump family dealings and foreign policy.
## Trump family under investigation
Rep. Robert Garcia, new House Oversight Committee chair, pledged to investigate the Trump family for alleged crimes.

> Lawyer up.
## Potential impeachment targets
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is a likely target for impeachment proceedings by Democrats.
## Iran war as political weapon
Trump admitted the Iran war was a 'piece' of why the GOP lost the midterm elections.

> piece
## Structural reforms needed
Democrats aim to prevent future presidents from taking foreign policy actions similar to Trump’s through legislative reforms.
## War Powers Resolution failure
The 1973 War Powers Resolution failed to stop Trump from embarking on military actions in Iran.
## Key takeaway

Democrats will use congressional control to cut Iran war funding and halt illegal boat strikes.