Trump to seek US Congress for $87.6 billion, mostly for Iran war

WASHINGTON — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday submitted a request to U.S. Congress seeking an additional $87.6 billion in funding, much of it tied to ongoing military operations involving Iran, setting up a contentious debate with lawmakers already divided over the conflict.

The supplemental budget request, posted by The White House and formally transmitted to Congress, includes $67.15 billion for defense-related needs. This comes on top of roughly $1 trillion previously allocated last year, as well as an additional $1.5 trillion the administration is seeking for the next fiscal cycle.

According to the White House, the new funding is intended to cover operational costs related to the Iran conflict, including military personnel expenses, readiness requirements, replenishment of weapons stockpiles, and classified defense programs. Of the total request, $21 billion is earmarked specifically for ammunition procurement, strengthening the domestic defense industrial base, and enhancing critical military capabilities.

Congressional Pushback Over War Powers

The request immediately drew resistance from lawmakers in both parties. Members of Congress have increasingly expressed frustration over limited communication from the administration regarding the scope and direction of military operations since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

Tensions over the conflict also escalated on Capitol Hill after the U.S. Senate passed a war powers resolution directing President Trump to halt military action against Iran. The measure followed an earlier House vote, signaling rare bipartisan concern over the administration’s authority to continue military engagement without explicit congressional approval.

Some lawmakers also emphasized that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the authority to declare war and authorize military deployments, accusing the administration of bypassing that constitutional separation of powers.

During a closed-door lunch at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, President Trump reportedly engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of the Republicans who supported the resolution.

Political Risks for Republicans

The supplemental request presents a difficult political challenge for Republicans in Congress, many of whom are already facing pressure from constituents over the war’s unpopularity. With midterm elections approaching in November, lawmakers are wary of supporting a measure that could further divide voters.

Democratic leaders have also strongly criticized the funding request, arguing that the administration is prioritizing military spending while domestic costs continue to rise. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Congress should focus on reducing financial pressures on American families rather than approving what he described as unchecked war funding.

Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she would carefully review the proposal to ensure troop support is maintained, while signaling opposition to large-scale additional funding for what she characterized as an unpopular military campaign.

Given narrow Republican majorities in both chambers, the administration is likely to require Democratic votes to pass key appropriations measures.

Global Health and Domestic Spending Provisions

Beyond defense spending, the supplemental request also includes funding for global health and domestic priorities. It allocates approximately $1.4 billion to address an Ebola outbreak in Africa, including funds for international humanitarian aid and global disease surveillance and response systems.

The White House said the funding is necessary to prevent the spread of the outbreak to the United States and protect public health.

The request comes despite previous cuts to U.S. Agency for International Development programs and reductions in African public health initiatives.

Additional provisions include $11.1 billion in support for U.S. farmers affected by economic pressures, $1 billion to increase pensions for former workers of Delphi, the auto parts subsidiary of General Motors, and $500 million for construction projects in the Washington, D.C. area. Another $1 billion is designated for reconstruction efforts at New York’s Penn Station.

As debate over the proposal intensifies, lawmakers are expected to scrutinize both its scale and its alignment with broader U.S. fiscal and foreign policy priorities. -Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by David Shepardson, Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Edmund Klamann/Reuters