Trump administration asks Congress for $87.6 billion, mostly for Iran war costs, as Senate pushes back

The price tag of Operation Epic Fury

The Office of Management and Budget sent the supplemental spending request to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Senate passed a war powers resolution rebuking the military campaign. Of the $87.6 billion total, $67 billion is earmarked for the Department of Defense, covering munitions ($21 billion), operational costs ($17.3 billion), and $12.1 billion for classified programs. The administration described the needs as urgent, saying stockpiles had been depleted after months of airstrikes.

Political headwinds on Capitol Hill

The request lands at a difficult moment. Only 24 percent of Americans believe the war was worth its cost, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll cited this week. On Tuesday the Senate adopted a war powers resolution that calls for a halt to hostilities unless Congress authorizes the mission. Four Republican senators (Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, and Rand Paul) joined Democrats in that vote. During a closed-door Republican luncheon on Wednesday, Trump reportedly assailed those senators and engaged in a shouting match with Cassidy.

I stood and said, 'You have not told the American people what's going on. This was supposed to last four weeks. It's lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved.'

Senate Appropriations Democrat Patty Murray said she would not "rubber stamp" the package, complicating its path past the 60-vote threshold. The House must also act, and with midterm elections in November, little legislative time remains.

I will closely review this request in its entirety and ensure we take care of our servicemembers, but I will not rubber stamp tens of billions more for this disastrous war of choice.

Farm aid: the highest direct payments since 2001

Embedded in the overall request is $11.1 billion (about €9.8 billion) in additional support for U.S. farmers, who have been hit by high fuel and fertilizer costs linked to shipping disruptions from the Middle East. Of that sum, $10 billion would go to row and specialty crop producers for the 2026 planting season, while $1.1 billion is targeted at Florida growers affected by winter storms in late 2025 and early 2026. The administration had already distributed $12 billion in farm aid earlier this year. If Congress approves the new funds, direct government payments would account for roughly 33 percent of total farm income in 2026, a share not seen since 2001, according to the consultancy Meridian Agribusiness Advisors.

Ebola and other global security items

The request also sets aside funds for the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, including $500 million for global health security to detect and prevent the disease's spread, and $800 million in international humanitarian assistance. A quarantine facility is planned in Kenya. Meanwhile, the Energy Department would receive $768 million for nuclear and energy security linked to the Iran conflict, and $300 million would go to the State Department for embassy security in countries neighbouring Iran. Another $500 million is requested for National Park Service repairs, including work on the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Outlook

OMB Director Russ Vought has urged Congress to act quickly. But the combination of a fragile ceasefire, a combative president, and a Republican Party split over the war makes swift passage unlikely. Even Republican defense hawks, who want to replenish munitions, face pressure from constituents weary of a conflict that was originally expected to last only a few weeks.

I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible.