Rep. Vasquez Demands Answers for New Mexicans, Pressing Pentagon Officials on Iran War Cost, Strategy, & Exit Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On May 19, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pressed Pentagon officials on the Iran war, demanding answers for New Mexico regarding the war's duration, cost, and the Administration's lack of an exit plan. Recent polling shows that 61% of Americans believe it was a mistake for the U.S. to use military force against Iran, and many of the New Mexicans the Congressman represents have expressed deep concerns about how their taxpayer money is being spent to fund a war they don't support.

"We're clearly still in a war, and American taxpayers are paying for it. Now, gas prices in New Mexico are at about $4.50 per gallon. They're paying double for their fertilizer. I just spoke to four farmers in my district who potentially will have to shut down their operations if they don't have relief anytime soon," said Vasquez. "My constituents want this war over. What's the Administration's exit strategy?

WATCH THE FULL HEARING CLIP HERE

Partial Transcript:

Rep. Vasquez: For 80 days, the Administration has waged a war on Iran without Congressional authorization or the approval of the American people. The Administration has spent at least $29 billion in taxpayer funds on the President's war of choice - billions in funding that could have gone to health care or lowering the cost of living.

We all agree that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, but last June, the Administration had stated that Iran's nuclear facilities were obliterated. Congress has yet to see proof that there was an imminent threat, and the Administration has failed to explain to Americans how this war is in our nation's best interest, or what the end goal or exit strategy truly is.

To me, this is unacceptable. The New Mexicans who sent me to Congress to represent them deserve answers, and I'm here to get them. So let's get started.

Assistant Secretary, earlier this month, the President publicly stated that the war was, and I, quote, "terminated." Could you tell the American people today that this war is over?

Assistant Secretary Zimmerman: Congressman, as the President stated, we were pursuing some specific military objectives, and he said that that phase of major combat operations was over. And we were transitioning to, uh, Project Freedom. And we're in a cease fire now with a blockade going on. and so…

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Rep. Vasquez: So does that mean the war is essentially over? Is that a yes or no?

Assistant Secretary Zimmerman: I would answer by saying that we are in a state of ceasefire.

Rep. Vasquez: Well, the war is now approaching three months. And let's be clear, it's never ended, and Congress has never authorized these military actions. A large U.S. military presence in the Strait of Hormuz remains blockading Iranian ports, which under international law, is an act of war itself. Additionally, the Administration recently struck multiple sites in Iranian flagged ships. Our troops are still at risk. and just yesterday, the President publicly threatened more military strikes against Iran.

We're clearly still in a war, and American taxpayers are paying for it. Now, gas prices in New Mexico are at about $4.50 per gallon. They're paying double for their fertilizer. I just spoke to four farmers in my district who potentially will have to shut down their operations if they don't have relief anytime soon.

My constituents want this war over. What's the Administration's exit strategy?

Assistant Secretary Zimmerman: That's certainly part of the negotiations that are ongoing as we speak.

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Rep. Vasquez: No one asked for this - Americans voted for a President who promised to keep our country out of senseless forever wars.

And today, that promise as we see it has been broken, and this war of choice is costing the American people billions as their cost of living continues to spike from inflation, from rising gas prices, and from tariffs.

Those are the folks that I represent and what they care about.

And we just learned that our largest military objective is simply to get us back to where we started before the war.

The American people deserve to know why they're sending their sons and daughters to war.

They deserve to know how long this war will last and how much it will cost.

They deserve to know if it's going to endanger American lives and civilians domestically and abroad.

And they deserve to know when the price of damn gas is going to go back down again.

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