Questions mount in Congress over Iran war's costs, risks and exit plan

"The president determined we were not going to get hit first. It's that simple, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a testy exchange with reporters at the Capitol. Rubio pushed back on his own suggestion a day earlier that Trump decided to strike Iran because Israel was ready to act first. Instead, he said Trump made the decision to attack this past weekend because it presented a unique opportunity with maximum chance for success."

"There is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump's watch, he said. The sudden pivot to a U.S. wartime footing has disrupted the political and policy agenda on Capitol Hill and raised uneasy questions about the risks ahead for a prolonged conflict and regime change after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

"The turn of events has intensified the push in Congress for the war powers resolution among the most consequential votes a lawmaker can take, with the war well underway as administration officials are telling lawmakers it will need supplemental funds to pay for the conflict. It comes at the start of a highly competitive midterm election season that will test Trump's slim GOP control of Congress."

Tensions escalated at the Capitol as lawmakers questioned the Trump administration's shifting justification for military action against Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Trump decided to strike Iran based on a unique operational opportunity rather than preempting an Israeli attack. The administration emphasized preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Congressional briefings continued as lawmakers considered a war powers resolution to restrict Trump's authority in the U.S.-Israel campaign. At least six U.S. military personnel have died. The conflict has disrupted Capitol Hill's agenda and raised concerns about prolonged warfare and regime change following Iran's Supreme Leader's death. The administration requested supplemental funding for the conflict during a competitive midterm election season.

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