President Obama plans to ask Congress for $33 billion in additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, administration officials said. The request, set to be delivered to Congress Feb. 1, comes on top of the administration’s anticipated call to increase the Pentagon’s budget next year to a record $708 billion. The new money will pay for the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and more predator drones.
The request is expected to receive congressional support, with Republicans likely to join moderate Democrats to pass the bill. But liberal Democrats have raised objections, and the debate could be contentious. “The president’s going to have to make his case,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Israel-US 'rift': is Trump losing patience with Netanyahu?Today's Big Question US president called for an end to Gaza war and negotiated directly with Hamas to return American hostage, amid rumours of strained relations
-
Zack Polanski: the 'eco-populist' running for Green Party leaderIn The Spotlight 'Insurgent' party deputy is making a bid to take the Greens further to the left
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
