WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pentagon could ask Congress for 200-billion dollars to support their military efforts in Iran. Members are approaching this request with caution, wanting to take a good look at what the Pentagon is asking for before they give their approval.
“As far as $200-billion, I think that number could move, obviously,” said Sec. Pete Hegseth. “It takes money to kill bad guys.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth addressed a report that claims the Pentagon will ask Congress for $200-billion dollars in their military campaign against Iran.
The entire military budget for FY 2026 is around one-trillion dollars. The additional $200-billion request is already raising some eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Republicans we spoke to shared cautious support for a large supplemental.
“Large sum of funding to say the least,” said Rep. Dan Meuser (R- PA). “We need to see where it’s going and we have to be very serious about our fiscal responsibility.”
“I think first and foremost we have to see the proposal,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R- NY). “We hear numbers and we want to hear about purposes, what the long-range mission is, what the ultimate final objective is and how we’re gonna pay for it.”
Democrats argue the war has caused an increase in gas prices and economic insecurity.
“Upstate New Yorkers are really struggling with utility bills, health insurance costs and I haven’t talked to anybody who says ‘lets go spend hundreds of billions of dollars on a war we didn’t have to get into,’” said Rep. Josh Riley (D- NY). “There’s no plan for what success should look like so we should be investing that money here at home.”
“We have still not been asked to authorize this war,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY). “President Trump continues to obfuscate the war. He’s changed his mind multiple times on an exit strategy. So, no, I will not be supporting a supplemental until president trump explains himself to congress.”
