Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) voiced sharp opposition to the ongoing military conflict with Iran during a Sunday appearance on Meet the Press, arguing that the Trump administration has failed to provide a clear justification or a realistic exit strategy for the war.
Speaking with moderator Kristen Welker, Schiff challenged the administration’s claim that an invasion was necessary to neutralize an imminent threat. “We still haven’t heard a clear articulation of why we’re at war,” Schiff said. “What was the imminent threat we were facing? I don’t think the war is worth the costs.”
The Senator highlighted the human and financial toll of the first six days of fighting, noting the loss of 13 U.S. service members and expenditures exceeding $11 billion.
Schiff rejected the idea that the war was a necessary response to Iran’s nuclear or missile programs, stating that intelligence suggests any direct threat to the U.S. mainland remains years away. He also accused the administration of lacking transparency regarding the deployment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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When asked by Welker if he would support additional military funding, Schiff was firm. “No. The military has all the funding it needs for this conflict, unless this conflict goes on for years,” he said, citing a $150 billion increase in the defense budget passed last year. Schiff argued that the $1 billion being spent daily on the war could be better utilized for domestic infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools.
The conversation also touched on the economic ripple effects of the conflict. Schiff warned that continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz could lead to higher gas prices and deeper U.S. entanglement.
He specifically criticized the administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil exports to stabilize energy prices, calling it a “terrible and tragic decision” that rewards Moscow while hurting Ukraine. “Russia is the problem here. And we’re enriching our adversary, Russia, at Ukraine’s expense,” he told Welker.
Regarding the ongoing partial government shutdown that has left the Department of Homeland Security unfunded for a month, Schiff pushed back against claims that Democrats are responsible for the lapse in security.
He noted that Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, asserting that Democrats have repeatedly offered resolutions to fund agencies like the TSA and Coast Guard, only to have them voted down.
“They can’t very well blame the minority party for their own inability to govern,” Schiff said.
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