House Republicans Pass $95 Billion Iran War Package, Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act | Today’s news
The House only passed the Republican budget proposal of $95 billion to fund the ongoing war with Iran and other top priorities of the Trump administration. The House passed the budget resolution on a 216-214 vote, with all Democrats, two Republicans and one independent who sits on the committee with Republicans voting against.
According to The Associated Press, House Republicans were split on the plan and conservatives were cautious because there are no offsetting budget cuts. But House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed ahead, viewing the self-starting process as the best chance to push President Donald Trump’s priorities through a divided Congress, despite skepticism in the Senate.
The SAVE America Act
The package includes $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers fighting Trump’s tariffs, and $10 billion for election law changes in line with the SAVE America Act and proof of citizenship requirements, which are Trump’s top priorities.
Trump has pushed for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote. The measure, while popular among Trump’s most ardent supporters, does not have enough support among Senate Republicans to pass it.
It is already against the law for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and experts warn that the proposed new rules could make it harder for eligible Americans to vote.
As of 2025, the SAVE America Act has failed to pass into law several times through various legislative pathways, although it has passed the House of Representatives three separate times.
Democrats argued that the money should be spent at home, especially on efforts to reduce costs for Americans.
“Republicans plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on Trump’s failed war in Iran,” Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said this week. “Think of what we could spend with those resources.
Congress is deadlocked over America’s war on Iran — unable to stop Trump’s military strikes but failing to authorize the use of American military force — and politically divided over the need to provide billions of taxpayer dollars to pay for it.
House approves $1.15 trillion defense bill
The House passed a defense policy bill that includes President Trump’s request for historic $1.15 trillion in national security spending and would designate the Defense Department as the War Department.
It would also provide pay raises next year ranging from 5% to 7% for service members, depending on their rank.
The National Defense Authorization Act is generally one of several bipartisan bills that Congress passes each year.
(With input from agencies)
