The White House has formally requested $87.6 billion from Congress to address "urgent needs," primarily related to military operations in Iran, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson. This request comes one day after Congress passed a resolution rebuking the administration's military action in Iran.
The majority of the requested funds, $67 billion, is designated for the Department of Defense. This includes $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $12.1 billion for classified programs. The White House has referred to these urgent needs as connected to "Operation Epic Fury (OEF)", the administration's designation for the conflict in Iran.
While Washington and Tehran are currently observing a ceasefire, the conflict has significantly depleted Pentagon stockpiles. The funding request also includes $11 billion for U.S. farmers and $1.4 billion to combat the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, which are measures unrelated to the Iran conflict.
The proposal is expected to face significant challenges in Congress, particularly with midterm elections approaching in November. The Iran conflict has been met with public disapproval, and some Republicans in Congress have expressed skepticism regarding a peace plan recently agreed upon by President Trump with Iran.
Earlier in the week, President Trump held a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans, during which he reportedly expressed frustration over a bipartisan Senate resolution that passed, instructing the president to end military action in Iran. This resolution marked the first time since the War Powers Resolution of 1973 that Congress has passed such a measure to halt a military engagement.