Washington — The Trump administration on Wednesday sent Congress a long-awaited supplemental funding package to help cover the cost of the Iran war.
The administration is asking for about $87.6 billion to address “urgent needs” related to the Iran war, as well as other funding to respond to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and provide support for American farmers.
Most of the funding — $67 billion — is for the Pentagon, including $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs and $12.1 billion for classified programs. It cites $767.5 million needed for the Department of Energy related to the war and Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and $300 million for the State Department for embassy security and construction in countries surrounding Iran.
The request will face an uphill battle and puts vulnerable Republicans in a politically tricky position, since backing it could be seen as support for the unpopular war. It’s all but certain to face stiff opposition from Democrats, putting its passage in the Senate in doubt.
“After dragging America into a reckless war, he now wants Congress to hand him tens of billions more to paper over the damage — while families are still paying higher prices,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The supplemental request also seeks $11.1 billion in farm aid and $1.4 billion to go toward efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and elsewhere.
