Foreign policy and national defense

The basics

The President commands the military and leads diplomacy. Congress controls the money and the power to declare war, and the Senate approves treaties. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into hostilities, and to end that use of force after 60 days unless Congress authorizes it or extends the deadline. The President can add up to 30 more days if needed to withdraw forces safely¹.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran, setting off a wider regional conflict, including Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz². An April ceasefire and a June agreement did not hold, and as of September 2026 the two countries were again trading limited strikes². The Congressional Budget Office estimated U.S. military operations had cost about $38 billion as of August 1, 2026¹⁰.

Congress has voted many times on resolutions to end U.S. involvement. On September 24, 2026, the Senate rejected one by 49 to 50, after the House passed it in July by 214 to 208³. Because it was a concurrent resolution, it would not have gone to the President for signature, and news reports described the vote as largely symbolic¹¹. At least 19 U.S. service members have been killed since the fighting began, according to the Defense Department's public casualty count³¹². Some U.S. officials have told reporters the true number is higher¹².

Aid to allies is another big question. Congress approved $174.2 billion in supplemental funding tied to the war in Ukraine from fiscal years 2022 through 2024⁴. Under a 2016 agreement, the U.S. pledged $38 billion in military aid to Israel for fiscal years 2019 through 2028, subject to Congress approving the money⁵.

At the 2025 NATO summit, member countries committed to spend 5% of their economy on defense and security by 2035, including at least 3.5% on core defense⁶. The Defense Department's 2026 budget request was $961 billion, including $113 billion from the 2025 tax and spending law⁷.

Key terms

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of the U.S., Canada and European countries that pledge to defend one another. In 2025, members agreed to a goal of spending 5% of their economies on defense and security by 2035⁶.

War Powers Resolution

A 1973 law meant to limit how long a President can keep U.S. forces in hostilities without approval from Congress¹.

Authorization for Use of Military Force

A law in which Congress approves military action without a formal declaration of war.

Foreign aid

Money, weapons or other help the U.S. gives other countries. It includes military aid, such as the $38 billion ten-year pledge to Israel⁵, and economic and humanitarian aid.

Strait of Hormuz

A narrow sea passage off Iran and a key route for oil and natural gas shipments. Attacks there in 2026 disrupted global energy markets².

In Texas

Texas has a large military footprint. Its 14 military installations contribute an estimated $148.8 billion a year to the state economy and support about 628,800 jobs, according to the Texas Comptroller⁸⁹.

Near Colleyville, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth contributed at least $4.6 billion to the Texas economy in 2025⁹. Lockheed Martin builds military aircraft at nearby Air Force Plant 4 and has about 49,000 direct and indirect workers in Fort Worth⁹. Decisions about defense budgets and arms sales can affect North Texas jobs.

Conflicts abroad also show up at the pump. In September 2026, the national average price of diesel set daily records above $6.50 a gallon³¹³. News reports tied the rise to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and to attacks on Russian oil facilities during the war in Ukraine¹³.

How people see it

The strongest case for each view, in terms its supporters would recognize. We don't pick a side.

Questions to ask a candidate

• Should Congress have to vote before the U.S. continues military action against Iran?
• Should the U.S. keep providing military aid to Ukraine and to Israel? Under what conditions?
• Should the U.S. defense commitment to NATO allies depend on how much they spend on their own defense?
• Would you raise, hold steady or cut the defense budget, and what would you change inside it?