Cantwell Statement on Her Vote Directing Trump to End His War in Iran

Cantwell Statement on Her Vote Directing Trump to End His War in Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted 49-50 against a concurrent resolution directing President Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran, after nearly seven months of war. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted for the resolution and gave the following statement:

"The costs of President Trump's unnecessary war with Iran continue to mount, and the American people want it to end. We have lost valuable lives, and the conflict is compounding the burden of high gas and grocery prices at home."

Last week, Sen. Cantwell joined 45 Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding a full accounting of the costs of the war with Iran. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the senators criticized the Department of Defense for withholding information from Congress and the American public, even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to rise. This week, partial information provided to Congress showed that the war cost at least $43.6 billion by September 3 - three weeks ago - as the Trump Administration has requested $67 billion more for the war. Moreover, as the senators' letter notes, the war has also cost American consumers an extra $100 billion just in higher gas and diesel costs, and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets, among others.

On June 23, she issued a statement after voting for a War Powers Resolution measure to end the war. Congress passed the resolution - rejecting President Trump's war with Iran - in a bipartisan vote.

On June 18, she issued a statement on President Trump's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, saying, "The President's war with Iran was a mistake. The MOU is the price the President must pay to get us out of this unauthorized war before it further damages our economy and costs more lives."

On March 15, she issued a statement after six U.S. service members - including Captain Ariana G. Savino from Covington, Washington - died when their KC-135 aircraft crashed in Iraq during an Operation Epic Fury mission. Today, Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) joined Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), and Mike Carey (R-OH-15) in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Zeus 95 Memorial Act, to establish a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the six crewmates who perished in the crash.

On March 11, Sen. Cantwell and 45 Senate Democrats sent a letter to Sec. Hegseth pressing the Department of Defense to provide answers to the American people about the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, and civilian casualties in the Trump Administration's war on Iran, as well as accountability for those responsible.

On March 2, she cosponsored a resolution led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to direct the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. A subsequent vote to advance that measure failed on a 47-53 vote.

On March 1, she issued a statement in response to the news that three U.S. service members had been killed and five others injured in the conflict: "My heart goes out to the families of the servicemembers killed and injured. Our troops valiantly put their lives on the line for the nation, every one of them a hero. The Trump Administration must come before Congress."

On February 28, soon after the Trump Administration ordered strikes on Iran, Sen. Cantwell issued a statement criticizing the Administration and demanding that it seek congressional approval, as the Constitution requires.

In June 2025, shortly after the United States bombed alleged nuclear sites in Iran, Sen. Cantwell voted in support of another War Powers Resolution joint resolution that ultimately failed 47-53.