Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requests $67 billion from Congress to fund escalating military operations in Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are requesting $67 billion in war funding from Congress to sustain intensifying operations in Iran. The administration announced the request in a letter to lawmakers, seeking to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to cover the costs of Operation Epic Fury. While the administration sees the operation as largely successful, the conflict has escalated recently, resulting in 17 American troop deaths. President Trump stated on social media that Iran will pay many times over for every American soldier killed. The funding request also includes $20 billion for unrelated projects, such as $11.1 billion for struggling farmers and $1 billion to combat an Ebola outbreak in Africa. Despite the urgency expressed by the Pentagon, some Republican lawmakers remain skeptical of the rapid spending. While defense hawks argue that munitions are being depleted quickly, other conservatives are seeking more specific details and potential spending offsets before committing to the large sum.