A Democratic Congress is more likely to leverage budgetary pressures to shift the U.S. strategy against Iran, but such a process will take months, leaving the White House with unilateral escalation options in the meantime, while a currently unlikely Republican revolt against the White House appears to be the only path to passing a War Powers Act to end the conflict. On Nov. 3, the Democratic Party retook control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress, a bruising outcome for President Donald Trump's Republican Party that adds new political pressure to his Iran war strategy. Although the new Congress will not take power until Jan. 3, 2027, bipartisan lawmakers have reportedly said they are prepared to penalize the administration over the war, with some saying they want to start by pushing out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Many in the GOP, including Vice President J.D.