Washington, March 20 (SANA) A request by the United States Army for an additional $200 billion in emergency funding to sustain the ongoing US-Israeli-Iranian war faced a wave of intense rejection within the US Congress on Friday.
Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties expressed shock at the magnitude of the request, according to Reuters. This skepticism follows record-breaking defense budget increases already approved over the past year. Members of Congress are now demanding the administration to provide clearer strategic objectives for a war that has entered its third week and triggered massive volatility in global energy markets and stock exchanges.
During a congressional hearing, Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal questioned how the government could justify an additional $200 billion in war costs. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen took a firmer stance, insisting that the funding must be rejected, stating “the best way to end this war, protect our troops, save civilian lives, and rein in a lawless Administration is to cut off funding. I’m a hell no,” he wrote on X.
Resistance also echoed within Republican ranks. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, noted that she had not been briefed in advance on the request, describing the $200 billion figure as “far higher than anything expected.”
Preliminary estimates suggest this conflict could become the most expensive in US history, surpassing the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Administration officials informed Congress that expenditures for the first six days of the conflict alone exceeded $11 billion.
These new demands come despite the Republican-led Congress having recently passed the 2026 Defense Appropriations Act—totaling $840 billion—alongside an additional $156 billion in tax and spending legislation. As the war enters its 21st day, the global economic outlook remains precarious. Tehran has intensified its attacks on critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, fueling international fears that the military escalation is evolving into a global energy crisis that threatens worldwide economic stability.
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