Pentagon will ask US Congress for $200 billion to finance war in Iran, agency says

War in Iran divides Maga movement in the US The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the war against Iran, according to the Associated Press news agency. According to information from a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the United States War Department forwarded the request to the White House, which will have to request the extra budget from Congress. Asked about the issue at a press conference this Thursday (19), Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that he is seeking more funding for the offensive in the Middle East, but did not specify amounts: “Money is needed to kill the bad guys. Let’s go back to Congress and talk to our representatives there to ensure we have adequate funding.” Pete Hegseth AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta The new funding needs to be approved by parliamentarians to be released and, despite the American House and Senate having a Republican majority, it is not certain that the vote will be in favor of the government, as the war against Iran is putting Trumpism to the test, exposing fissures in the MAGA base. Many of the most conservative lawmakers in the Republican Party, including Trump, are supporters of fiscal austerity, with little political interest in large spending, whether in military operations or in other areas. Most Democrats are likely to reject such a request and demand more detailed plans for military strategy and objectives. In his press conference this Thursday, in addition to responding to the extra budget request, Pete Hegseth stated that there is no “definite deadline” for the end of the war, which began three weeks ago.

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