Senator Rand Paul is the only Senate Republican opposing President Trump’s military strikes against Iran, citing the lack of congressional authorization and emphasizing constitutional checks and balances. He warned of political and economic fallout from escalating conflict and plans to block a $200 billion supplemental war funding request, linking it to ongoing fiscal disputes like the prolonged DHS shutdown. The shutdown has severely impacted airport security, causing TSA staffing shortages and long wait times, with ICE agents temporarily filling gaps amid stalled legislative efforts to end the funding impasse.