The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the U.S. war against Iran. This adds to what is already a sizable military spending boost being sought by President Donald Trump.

Push for Pentagon Money Faces Skeptical Lawmakers

The push for billions of dollars in Iran War funding comes at a fraught political moment. Lawmakers are skeptical of the deal Trump struck with Iran to bring an end to the war, and wary of next steps.

The White House has requested a remarkable $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon — a nearly 50% increase over the current fiscal year’s funding levels. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he’s expecting a supplemental spending request from the administration for the war, and when it arrives, ‘we’ll work through it and see where the votes are.’

Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg spoke to several senators about the proposal in calls last week and he notified congressional committees that the $80 billion request had been sent to the Office of Management and Budget.

Concerns Over War Costs

Lawmakers are concerned about the cost of the war, with some questioning whether the $80 billion request is sufficient. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a member of Democratic party leadership, said he expects the actual price tag could be much higher than the $80 billion being proposed.

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said funding for an Iran supplemental can’t be done in isolation. It has to be done after lawmakers from both parties have agreed to a total spending amount for both defense and non-defense programs, ‘then the rest of this would follow pretty quickly,’ Reed said.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.