US President Donald Trump has defended the Pentagon’s request for an additional $200 billion to fund military operations, including the ongoing conflict in Iran, as a necessary step to maintain the readiness of the US armed forces.
“This is a very volatile world,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “Crisis spending would be a very small price to pay to ensure the nation’s military remains in tip-top shape.”
Follow live news updates on the US-Israel-Iran war here
Trump suggested that the request also extend to broader defense needs outside of Iran, while emphasizing the administration’s goal of maintaining military superiority.
Pentagon seeks $200 billion; Hegseth signals flexibility
The Pentagon has forwarded the funding proposal to the White House, the AP quoted a senior administration official as saying on condition of anonymity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would not confirm the exact amount, saying the number could change.
“It takes money to kill the bad guys,” Hegseth said, adding, “We’re going to go back to Congress and the people there to make sure we’re properly funded.”
Congress is gearing up for scrutiny
Congress has yet to formally receive the request, and lawmakers are concerned about the size and scope of the proposal.
Rep. Ken Calvert, the Republican chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees defense spending, said the Pentagon needs additional funding to replenish ammunition.
“That was supposed to happen and now we have a conflict with some additional costs. So that’s where we are,” Calvert said. “This is about our national security and it’s important that we do this.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Betty McCollum, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, resigned.
“This is not going to be a rubber stamp for the president of the United States,” McCollum said. “I don’t write blank checks to the Department of Defense. She also stressed that Congress is still waiting for details on previous Pentagon allocations.
Bilateral negotiations await us
The requested funding represents a significant boost to the Pentagon’s annual budget, which currently exceeds $800 billion. Combined with last year’s allocation of $150 billion through Trump’s tax-and-spending package, the total increases pressure on a federal budget already projected to hit a $1.9 trillion deficit, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the situation as a “dangerous time” and emphasized the need to adequately fund defense, while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said: “Eventually we will have negotiations with the White House about the exact amount. We’re not at that point yet.”
Some lawmakers welcomed the funding as essential to replenishing ammunition and modernizing defense capabilities. Others, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro, condemned the $200 billion figure as “outrageous” and argued that domestic priorities also needed attention.
Negotiations in Congress are expected to be intense in the coming weeks as Republican leaders weigh whether to push the package alone or seek bipartisan support, which could increase overall costs.
Read also | Trump Meets Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Amid US-Iran War, Hormuz Crisis
