Washington: The White House has sought an additional $87.6 billion from Congress, with most of the funding earmarked for military expenses linked to Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran, according to reports.
The supplemental request was submitted by the Office of Management and Budget to House Speaker Mike Johnson, citing urgent requirements arising from the conflict that began on February 28. Of the total amount sought, about $67.15 billion has been allocated for the Pentagon, in addition to previously approved defence spending and the administration's proposed budget for 2027.
The defence allocation includes funding for weapons and munitions procurement, operational expenses, classified programmes, fuel supplies, drone production and cybersecurity requirements. The request follows earlier estimates from the Defence Department that tens of billions of dollars would be required to cover war-related costs and other military expenditures.
Beyond defence spending, the package includes $11.1 billion in economic assistance for American farmers, including support for crop producers and agricultural communities affected by severe winter storms in Florida. Another $1.4 billion has been proposed to help Central African countries respond to an Ebola outbreak.
Additional funding has been requested for infrastructure projects, including restoration and construction work in Washington, DC, and the modernisation of New York City's Penn Station.
The proposal has intensified political divisions in Washington. Democratic lawmakers criticised the administration for seeking billions more after expanding military involvement in Iran and questioned the inclusion of unrelated Pentagon priorities. The request also arrived amid growing congressional unease over the conflict, with lawmakers arguing that decisions on war powers rest with Congress and not solely with the president.
Based on a report by The Indian Express