The Pentagon is seeking an additional $200 billion to fund the ongoing war in Iran, a massive request that should face intense scrutiny in Congress, which must approve any new spending, according to the Associated Press.
The Defense Department forwarded the proposal to the White House, the news outlet said, citing a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the request had not yet been made public.
Hegseth signals cost flexibility
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not confirm the exact figure at a press conference on Thursday (March 18), suggesting the estimate could change.
“It takes money to kill the bad guys,” Hegseth said, adding that the administration will work with lawmakers to secure the funding.
“We’re going back to Congress and to our people there to make sure we’re properly funded,” he said.
Congress has yet to receive a formal request
While lawmakers prepared the request for additional funding, it remains unclear whether the White House has formally forwarded the request to Congress for consideration, the AP reported.
The absence of a formal authorization for war has also contributed to concerns on Capitol Hill, where members of both parties are said to be concerned about the scope and strategy of the military operation.
The funding request was first reported by The Washington Post.
