The President of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed this Thursday (19) that the Pentagon should ask Congress in the coming days for a new public financing package worth US$200 billion to pay for ongoing American military operations against the Iranian regime. Trump said that the amount is necessary to keep the Armed Forces prepared and “a small price to pay” to guarantee the country’s security.
“We want to be in the best shape, the best shape we’ve ever been in. It’s a small price to pay to ensure we remain at the top,” said the president when confirming the amount of financing.
According to the newspaper report Washington Postthe new package would serve to finance ongoing military operations, increase ammunition production and guarantee resources for possible future actions. The request has not yet been formalized, but is already circulating among parliamentarians and members of the government.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week defended the budget increase and said the ongoing war against Iran requires constant replacement of equipment. In a statement to journalists, he said that the amount can be adjusted, but that the objective is to ensure that American forces are fully supplied.
“We are going back to Congress to make sure we are adequately funded, for what has already been done and what may still be needed,” he said.
According to estimates cited by authorities heard by the American press, the war against Iran has already cost more than US$12 billion in the first weeks, with expenses that could reach around US$1 billion per day during the most intense operations.
Some Republicans in Congress defend the reinforcement of the military budget, while others demand cuts in other areas to compensate for the increase in spending. Members of the Democratic Party have indicated resistance to approving new resources for the ongoing conflict.
