Topline
President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday night sought $87.6 billion in supplemental funding from Congress, primarily for costs linked to the Iran War, after the president clashed with Senate Republicans and successfully pushed them into rejecting a war powers resolution, a day after a similar measure passed after four GOP members sided with Democrats.
US President Donald Trump speaks during the kick-off celebration for the “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
In an official letter sent to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., the White House sought an additional $67.1 billion in funding for the Pentagon.
The letter, written by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, noted that the money will help address “operational costs” incurred by the Pentagon during Operation Epic Fury.
Around $21 billion of the Pentagon’s request was sought to help rebuild ammunition stocks, which were depleted during the war, along with $17.3 billion for “operational costs” and $12.1 billion on classified programs.
The letter also sought $300 million in funding for the State Department to cover war-related costs, including embassy security, personnel security and other related expenses.
The rest of the funding covers various other unrelated programs, including $550 million to address the ongoing spread of Ebola in Africa and $800 million for addressing the humanitarian crisis linked to the outbreak.
Crucial Quote
“I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible. The Administration is also open to discussing additional relief for other urgent matters,” Vought wrote in his letter to Johnson.
Chief Critic
In a statement, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the senior most Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee said: “President Trump launched a reckless and costly war with Iran—without authorization from Congress or the support of the American people—that he should never have started, and now, instead of doing anything to help families get by, he is asking taxpayers to pick up the tab and give him billions more to wage wars overseas.”
What Do We Know About The War Powers Resolution?
After a heated meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, where Trump allegedly called Sen. Bill Cassidy a “lunatic”, the Senate voted on another war powers resolution a day after approving one that angered the president. On Tuesday, four Republicans—Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine and Bill Cassidy, R-La.—joined all Democrats in the chambers to pass the measure prohibiting Trump from continuing the Iran war without congressional approval. On Wednesday, a similar measure failed to pass 47-50-1 in a vote just before midnight. Cassidy shifted his vote to know after a meeting with Vice President JD Vance, while Paul voted present. In a post on X, Paul wrote: “My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed…But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so.”
How Did Trump React?
In a post on Truth Social, the president wrote: “Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against to 50-47 for. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!
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