(The Center Square) – Democrats in Congress are already pledging to reject the Trump administration’s forthcoming request for $200 billion to help finance U.S. military operations in Iran.
While the Pentagon has not formally sent its request to lawmakers yet, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed to reporters Thursday that the $200 billion number floated by news reports was accurate.
“I think that number could move, obviously,” Hegseth added. “It takes money to kill bad guys. So we’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future. Ensure that our ammunition, everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond.”
The Department of Defense received over $900 billion in December through the National Defense Authorization Act.
Republicans have mostly kept quiet on the Secretary’s announcement, but multiple Democrats in both chambers of Congress vocally opposed the idea.
“How on earth are we going to pay for that? It is absolutely ridiculous,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said on the House floor Thursday.
On social media, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he “will not vote for a penny more for this endless, illegal war,” while Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called the proposal a “staggering amount, especially when Americans are already seeing costs rise everywhere.”
So far, the only Republican to publicly oppose funding the Iran operation is Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul’s opposition means Senate Majority Leader John Thune would need at least eight Democrats to cross party lines on the issue.
The federal government racked up record-breaking deficits in fiscal year 2025 and is set to do so again at current spending levels under the second Trump administration. Thursday marks day 20 of the Iran conflict, which has cost American taxpayers an estimated $1 billion per day.
Congress never authorized the ongoing military hostilities in Iran, although two war powers resolutions to curtail operations failed.
Both Trump and Department of Defense officials have indicated that the end goal is to cripple Iran’s military power, prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, and instigate regime change in Iran.
U.S. service member casualties in Iran totaled 13 as of Thursday.
“If Trump wants $200 billion, it means he believes we will be at war for a very, very long time,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posted Thursday on X. “That’s the last thing Americans want.”
