The Trump administration is scrambling to secure more defense money to fund the US war in Iran. Pentagon officials have been meeting with House spending leaders to make their case for the additional funds.

Lawmaker Skepticism

However, lawmakers from both parties have expressed skepticism about the request, citing a lack of meaningful specifics from the Pentagon. Some conservatives have even threatened to vote against the funding, arguing that it would add to the nation’s debt.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated that he still has many questions about the request, saying, ‘That’s a lot of money to blow through in a very short period of time, and I’m not saying they didn’t, but they shouldn’t just expect us to go along with whatever they say.’

Defense Department Response

The Defense Department has said that it has had ‘meaningful engagements’ with lawmakers, including hundreds of meetings and briefings over the past two months. However, lawmakers remain unconvinced, with some arguing that the administration’s request is not justified.

As the debate over the funding continues, lawmakers are weighing the need to support the military against concerns about the nation’s debt and the potential impact on other priorities. The House budget committee has advanced a proposal that includes $60 billion for the Pentagon, but it is unclear whether the measure will pass.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.