politics
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion for Iran Conflict Costs
The administration requested $87.6 billion from Congress one day after lawmakers passed a resolution directing an end to military action. Most of the funds would cover Defense Department expenses tied to Operation Epic Fury.
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The White House asked Congress on Wednesday to approve $87.6 billion, with the bulk of the money directed at Defense Department expenses connected to the Iran conflict. The request followed by one day a congressional resolution instructing the president to end the military action.
Of the total, $67 billion would go to the Defense Department, including $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $12.1 billion for classified programs. The remaining funds include $11 billion for U.S. farmers and $1.4 billion to address the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
The White House Office of Management and Budget submitted the formal request in a letter to the Speaker of the House.
The proposal faces resistance in Congress, where the Iran conflict remains unpopular with voters ahead of midterm elections scheduled for November. Republicans have expressed skepticism about a peace plan agreed last week. Earlier on Wednesday, the president held a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans after canceling a planned signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill.
The meeting addressed Tuesday's Senate vote on a war powers resolution, which passed in the Republican-controlled chamber and marked the first such resolution since 1973. Washington and Tehran are currently observing a ceasefire, though the conflict has reduced Pentagon stockpiles.
