Trump administration requests $88 billion for Iran war, other expenses
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US President Donald Trump Photograph: (US President Donald Trump)
The Trump administration has asked Congress for $88 billion in emergency funding to cover Iran war costs, Ebola outbreak response, military readiness and financial aid for American farmers.
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday (Jun 24) has sent a request to Congress for about $87.6 billion in funding to address “urgent needs”. Most of the funding is sought by the Pentagon to cover expenses related to the Iran war. The proposal also includes money for Ebola response efforts in Central Africa and financial support for American farmers.
“We look forward to working with Congress to get this passed on behalf of the Warfighter and ensure we remain ready to respond to contingencies today,” spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
The Department of War has requested for $67 billion in funds, including $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs and $12.1 billion for classified programs. The Pentagon has stated that it needs $767.5 million for the Department of Energy related to the war and Iran’s nuclear capabilities. It has also cited $300 million for the State Department for embassy security and construction in countries surrounding Iran.
The development comes at a politically challenging moment for the White House as the Trump administration faces increasing concerns over the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Lawmakers are also under intense pressure to justify war-related spending. Democrats have already expressed criticism for the proposal, arguing that much of the requested funding should be reviewed through the normal budget process rather than through emergency legislation.
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“After dragging America into a reckless war, he now wants Congress to hand him tens of billions more to paper over the damage – while families are still paying higher prices,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the supplemental request.
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Calling the request “an attempt to secure tens of billions of additional dollars for unrelated Pentagon priorities”, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said that the funds “should rightly be considered through the annual appropriations process”.
“I will closely review this request in its entirety and ensure we take care of our servicemembers, but I will not rubberstamp tens of billions more for this disastrous war of choice,” she said in a statement.
Defending the proposal, GOP Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the funding was “essential,” adding that it would “accelerate immediate production of key capabilities, from exquisite munitions to low-cost hypersonics, strike weapons and drones.”
Apart from military spending, the proposal also seeks $11.1 billion in farm aid and $1.4 billion for efforts against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and other parts of Africa.
