WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked Congress for $87.6 billion in emergency supplemental spending to cover military operations in Iran and a range of other needs at home and abroad.
The proposal faces an uncertain path on Capitol Hill: Democrats would likely be needed to pass emergency funding, and key lawmakers signaled skepticism. Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said the request “is not merely meant to pay for the president’s disastrous war, but an attempt to secure tens of billions of additional dollars for unrelated Pentagon priorities that should rightly be considered through the annual appropriations process.” She added she will review the request and “ensure we take care of our servicemembers, but I will not rubberstamp tens of billions more for this disastrous war of choice.”
White House budget director Russ Vought, in a letter accompanying the supplemental request, said the funds would address “urgent needs” for the Defense Department, help respond to an Ebola outbreak, provide assistance to American farmers, and support energy security work — primarily for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at the Energy Department. The package also seeks money for restoration and construction projects in and around Washington, D.C., and funding to help finalize design and construction of a modernized Penn Station in New York City.
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she will evaluate the administration’s request and convene a committee hearing so senators can question relevant administration officials directly.
The supplemental request breaks down roughly as follows:
– $67.15 billion for the Department of Defense
– $11.1 billion for the Department of Agriculture to provide aid to farmers
– $3.36 billion for the State Department for diplomatic, security and global health programs
– $2.03 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard
– $1 billion for the Department of Transportation to assist with final design and construction of a modernized Penn Station
– $1 billion for the Department of Labor to raise benefit levels for participants in certain Delphi Corporation pension plans terminated after General Motors’ 2009 bankruptcy
– $767.5 million for the Department of Energy
– $600 million for the General Services Administration’s federal buildings fund
– $500 million for the National Park Service to upgrade a seawall and improve the World War II Memorial
– $40.26 million for the FBI tied to its role in the Iran war and “other classified needs”
– $36.18 million for the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
– $13.1 million for the Department of Homeland Security operations and support account, part of a classified request
The supplemental focuses heavily on defense spending but bundles a number of domestic and programmatic priorities, a combination likely to prompt debate in both parties as lawmakers consider whether to approve emergency funding outside the regular appropriations process. (Reported by States Newsroom)
