Congress Urged to Approve $87.6 Billion for Iran War and Other Needs
The White House has formally requested that Congress approve $87.6 billion (£66.5 billion), primarily allocated to "urgent needs" related to the US military operations in Iran. This request comes a day after Congress passed a resolution criticizing the military action.
The majority of the funding, totaling $67 billion, is designated for the Department of Defense. This includes $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $12.1 billion for classified programs, according to the White House.
Additional funds in the proposal cover unrelated areas such as $11 billion for US farmers and $1.4 billion to address the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
Despite the request, the proposal is expected to face significant challenges in Congress, as the conflict with Iran remains unpopular among voters and the midterm elections are approaching in November.
Formal Request and Congressional Response
The White House Office of Management and Budget submitted the formal funding request on Wednesday in a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"Most of this request will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury (OEF),"
the letter states, referring to the ongoing Iran conflict.
Currently, Washington and Tehran are observing a ceasefire; however, the conflict has significantly depleted Pentagon stockpiles.
Within Congress, Republican members have expressed skepticism regarding the peace plan President Trump agreed upon with Iran last week.
Tensions Within Republican Ranks
Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump held a tense meeting with Senate Republicans after abruptly canceling a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill.
During the closed-door luncheon on Capitol Hill, Trump voiced his displeasure over Tuesday's largely symbolic vote on a war powers resolution in the Republican-controlled Senate, which aimed to block his military actions in Iran, according to reports from the BBC's US partner CBS.
This resolution marks the first of its kind to successfully pass through Congress, instructing a president to end a military action since the War Powers Resolution was enacted in 1973.
