‘It takes money to kill bad guys’: Pentagon’s massive $200 billion Iran war request | Hegseth’s top 10 quotes

Big price tag faces scrutiny over war

The proposed amount is exceptionally high and comes in addition to extra funding the Defence Department received last year through President Donald Trump’s major tax cuts bill. Any such request would require congressional approval, and it remains unclear whether it has the political backing to pass.

Although lawmakers have been expecting a new funding request, it is not clear if the White House has formally submitted it for consideration. Congress has not authorised the war, and unease is growing among lawmakers over the scope and strategy of the military operation. The Washington Post first reported the funding request.

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The White House declined to answer further questions about the $200 billion proposal on Thursday.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described the moment as a “dangerous time” and said “we have to adequately fund defense.” Asked if he backed the amount, Johnson said he had not reviewed the details but added, “I support what’s needed to ensure that the American people remain safe.”

Even though Republicans control both the House and Senate, many conservative lawmakers are fiscal hawks with little appetite for large spending increases, whether on military operations or other areas. Most Democrats are also expected to oppose the request unless the Trump administration provides clearer details on U.S. military goals and strategy.

Rep. Ken Calvert, the Republican chair of the House subcommittee overseeing defense spending, said he had already been pushing for a supplemental bill to replenish munitions. “That was going to happen, and now we have this conflict with some additional costs. So, that’s where we’re at,” Calvert of California said Thursday. “I know there are peripheral issues out there that people are concerned about, but right now, this is about our national security and it’s important that we get this done,” he said.

However, Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the same subcommittee, criticised the administration for entering the conflict without congressional approval and called for more clarity. “This is not going to be a rubber stamp for the president of the United States,” McCollum said.

She noted that Congress is still waiting for details on how the additional $150 billion allocated to the Pentagon through Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill is being used, as well as the administration’s budget request for the current year. “I’m not writing blank checks to the Department of Defense,” McCollum said.

Negotiations ahead on a final package

The situation sets the stage for a major political battle in Congress over any new Pentagon funding. Approval would likely require bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats to overcome objections.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo)

If cleared, the request would significantly increase the Pentagon’s annual budget, which currently stands at over $800 billion for this fiscal year. That figure already includes roughly $150 billion approved last year under the tax cuts bill, much of it earmarked for specific projects and broader upgrades to defence capabilities.

While some lawmakers strongly support increased spending to replenish weapons stockpiles and strengthen U.S. military readiness against emerging threats, others argue that domestic priorities such as healthcare deserve greater attention.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, reacted sharply to the proposal, calling the $200 billion figure: “It’s outrageous.”

To push the package through, Republican leaders may attempt to pass it on their own using the budget process or negotiate with Democrats by including other priorities — a move that could drive the overall cost even higher.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise indicated that discussions are still in early stages. “Ultimately, we’re going to have negotiations with the White House on an exact amount,” Scalise said. “We’re not at that point yet.”