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Top military officials ask for more money as Iran War escalates
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top military officials are asking Congress for $67 billion in war funding as the U.S. intensifies its operations in Iran, with 17 American troops killed so far.
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WASHINGTON —
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will appear before Congress Tuesday afternoon to request more than $67 billion in funding for the war in Iran, as the conflict escalates.
Lawmakers are expected to use the debate and potential future funding vote to reflect their support for the war. Hegseth and Caine, who have not held a press briefing since early May, will likely face tough questions from lawmakers about ending the conflict.
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White House Wants $67B For Iran War
In a letter, the White House requests $67 billion from Congress for the Pentagon to deter Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, cover costs from Operation Epic Fury, support military personnel, replenish resources, and strengthen U.S. bases. The letter asks for a few billion in funding for other agencies related to the war.
The letter suggests the administration sees the operation as largely over.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States executed a successful operation to deter the threat of a nuclear armed Iranian regime and massively degrade the regime’s ability to project power in the region.” White House Budget Director Russ Vought wrote in the letter in June.
Iran War Fighting Continues Escalating
The war has intensified since then. American forces bombed Iran for the 10th consecutive night on Monday. Since Friday, three U.S. soldiers were killed, and another remains missing.
The Pentagon identified a service member killed in Iraq during the controlled detonation of an Iranian drone on Sunday as Sgt. Michael Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
On Monday, the Pentagon identified 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas and 25-year-old Tyler Feehan of Hawaii, who were killed in Jordan during U.S. and partner forces’ defense against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on Friday.
Since the start of the war, 17 American troops have died.
President Donald Trump addressed the situation on social media, writing, “Every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!”
Other Priorities In Funding Ask
The funding request includes about $20 billion in projects unrelated to the war in Iran.
Most of the remaining money would go to farmers, including $11.1 billion in payments for those who had their crops destroyed by weather or are otherwise struggling financially.
The administration is also backing a bill to allow the year-round sale of E15 fuel, an often cheaper but less efficient blend of gasoline made with corn.
More than $1 billion would go toward stopping the outbreak of Ebola in Africa.
There are also some construction projects, including $1 billion to renovate Penn Station in New York City and $500 million for the World War II Memorial and seawall improvements at national parks in Washington, D.C.
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