Administration Seeks $87.6 Billion Supplemental for Defense and Domestic Programs

The administration submitted a request to Congress for an additional $87.6 billion in spending that includes funding tied to the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. The Office of Management and Budget sent the formal proposal on Wednesday. Its director wrote to the House Speaker urging quick action on the package.

$67 billion of the total would go to the Defense Department for military personnel, readiness, and replenishing stocks. The request is smaller than an earlier $200 billion supplemental the department sought earlier in the year. Of the Defense Department portion, $21 billion is designated for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $21.1 billion for classified programs.

The funding request arrived one day after Congress passed a war powers resolution calling on the president to halt military activities against Iran or obtain legislative approval. Four Senate Republicans joined Democrats in support of the measure. Democrats said they would oppose the new spending request.

One senator described it as an attempt to secure funds for unrelated Pentagon priorities outside the regular appropriations process and pledged not to approve additional money for the military campaign. Two Republican representatives issued a joint statement supporting the added military funds, saying defense strength must be maintained.

The package also includes $11.1 billion in farm aid, $1.4 billion for Ebola response efforts in Africa, $1 billion for improvements to New York’s Penn Station, and $500 million for restoration and construction projects in Washington, D.C. The request comes with limited time remaining before November’s midterm elections, leaving its prospects in Congress uncertain.