$1 trillion. That's how much Congress has appropriated for defense funding in fiscal year 2026, a record high. Trump said in January he would seek a $500 billion increase in his 2027 budget request.
News Peg
The Washington Post reported Wednesday the White House is preparing to ask Congress for more than $200 billion to fund the war, citing unnamed sources. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both acknowledged the incoming funding request, with Trump telling reporters Thursday the White House is seeking the money "for a lot of reasons, beyond what we're talking about in Iran," adding, "it's a small price to pay to make sure we stay tippy top." Hegseth told reporters Thursday "that number could move, obviously," adding, "it takes money to kill bad guys." The Pentagon reportedly spent $11 billion on the war in the first six days alone.
What To Watch For
Whether Republicans will have the support to pass the $200 billion Iran war funding request. They can afford to lose no more than two votes in the House and need the support of seven Senate Democrats to overcome the filibuster without the support of any Democrats. Some Republicans are mulling a proposal to make the war funding conditional on aid for farmers, to make the package more attractive to Republicans, and wildfire relief, to appease Democrats, Politico reported. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was confident the move would secure "critical mass" for the war funds, "because I think [Democrats] want funding for the California fires,[Republicans] want funding for agriculture," he told Politico. Others are calling for a way to offset the savings. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, told CNN the Pentagon should be subject to an audit first. Rep. Chip Roy, Texas; Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., have expressed broad hesitation, calling for more information about the goals, objectives and timeline of the war before approving any more funding. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters Wednesday she hasn't received any formal request from the White House, but the reported $200 billion figure is "considerably higher than I would have guessed," adding "I don't know how it's broken down." Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, also told Fox Business on Thursday the figure "sounds like a high number to me."
Chief Critics
At least one Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has said she won't support additional funding for the Iran war, telling CNN, "I am so tired of spending money over there . . . I have folks in Colorado who can't afford to live. We need America first policies right now." Boebert's stance reflects a break in Trump's base over the war, with prominent right-wing figures, including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., expressing stiff opposition to the war, arguing it goes against Trump's "America first" philosophy and his campaign promise not to enter into any new wars.