The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress for approval of $87.6 billion in additional spending, citing various justifications including the ongoing war against Iran.
The Office of Management and Budget, part of the executive branch, formally submitted the funding proposal on Wednesday. Its director, Russell Vought, invited the House of Representatives to take up the request.
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vought stated, "I invite Congress to act on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible."
Largest portion of funds goes to the Defense Department
Approximately $67 billion of the requested funds is allocated to the Defense Department to meet war-related needs. This budget covers "military personnel and readiness expenses" as well as "operational costs for replenishing stockpiles."
The request stands out as a more modest figure compared to the Defense Department's earlier request of $200 billion in additional funding earlier this year. However, with the midterm elections just months away in November, it remains uncertain whether there is political appetite to pass another major spending bill.
Comes right after war powers vote
The spending request comes one day after Congress adopted a war powers resolution urging Trump to halt military activities against Iran or seek the legislature's approval. In the vote, four Republican senators crossed party lines to vote with the Democrats.
This division within the Republican Party is seen as a reflection of the broader societal divide over the war against Iran. Polls show the war is unpopular among the American public.
Cassidy directly responds to Trump
The divisive nature of the war was also on display in Congress on Wednesday. After Trump attended a closed-door lunch for Senate Republicans, Senator Bill Cassidy, who supported the war powers resolution, was reported to have defended his vote by challenging the president.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cassidy said, "I stood up and said, 'You haven't told the American people what is going on.' This was supposed to take four weeks. It has been four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved." The senator pledged to continue voting for war powers resolutions until Congress receives a full briefing on the war effort.
Reaction from Democrats and some Republicans
Democrats stated they would oppose the White House's funding request. Washington Senator Patty Murray described the proposal as "an attempt to provide tens of billions of additional dollars for unrelated Pentagon priorities." Murray added, "I will closely scrutinize this request in its entirety and I will protect our troops, but I will not blindly approve tens of billions more for this disastrous war of choice."
However, the funding request also has its supporters. Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole and California Representative Ken Calvert issued a joint statement saying they see the additional military funds as a valuable investment.
Other items in the package
Of the amount allocated to the Defense Department, $21 billion is planned for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $21.1 billion for classified programs. This would come on top of the $150 billion Congress approved for military spending last year.
However, the additional spending proposal on Wednesday also includes other funds and measures that critics say could encourage its passage. The package allocates $11.1 billion for farmer aid, $1.4 billion for efforts to combat Ebola outbreaks in Africa, $1 billion for improving New York's Penn Station, and $500 million for restoration and construction work in Washington D.C.
