WASHINGTON, DC - The Trump Administration failed to articulate a clear rationale or strategy before launching its war of choice against Iran.

Now that combat operations are underway, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says it is strategically important for Americans and Congress to understand the costs of war, the scope of U.S. military operations, and what impacts this conflict is having on the safety and finances of every American and our military's ability to address other pressing threats.

Yesterday, Senator Reed sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asking several key questions and demanding more public information about the true costs of war.

"Since the initial strikes on February 28, 2026, how much has the Department spent on these operations? How much are the daily costs of these operations? What are the costs to readiness? How much does the Department need to replenish munitions and aircraft combat losses?" Reed wrote.

Senator Reed also demanded to know: "When do you plan to submit a request to Congress for supplemental funding, as this operation was not included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget?"

Senator Reed delivered a floor speech today making it clear: "I will not support a blank check for this war of choice."

Reed also discussed the human and economic costs of this military deployment and noted Americans are being forced to pay higher prices in the near term for things like fuel, as well as long-term costs from this conflict, such as health care for veterans and survivor benefits pay, long after the cessation of hostilities.

"The President broke the diplomatic solution and is now trying to bomb his way out of a crisis of his own making. He had other, better, choices. He chose war. And now he owes the American people a full accounting," Reed noted.

"I would ask my colleagues who support this war same questions I have been asking the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs over the past two weeks. What is the theory of victory? What does success look like, and how will we know when we have achieved it? What legal authority does the administration believe it is operating under, given that this Congress has not authorized this conflict? What is the day-after plan for Iran - for its government, its 93 million citizens, its borders, its proxies? What is the plan if this regime does not fall - if the Revolutionary Guard fights on for years? And will the administration commit that American ground forces will not be sent into Iran?"

"To my Republican colleagues: I urge you to ask these same questions and to demand answers from the administration. History is watching, and in 20 years you too may wish you held the President to greater account."

Watch Senator Reed's full floor speech here or read the transcript.

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