US government seeks $200 billion for Iran war
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- US government told Congress it will need $200 billion more to continue bombing Iran.
- Department of Defense budget request for 2026 is $848 billion, with total defense spending projected to exceed $1 trillion and possibly reach $1.2 trillion.
- Pentagon spent $93.4 billion before the fiscal year ended last September to avoid unspent funds reverting to Treasury.
- Pentagon purchased $7.4 million of lobster tails, $15.1 million of ribeye steaks, $124,000 of ice‑cream machines, and a $98,329 Steinway grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff’s home.
- Republicans in Congress declined to hold public hearings on the war, citing operational sensitivity and the need to avoid showing division to the enemy.
- White House communications staff produced war videos mixing strike footage with sports and movie clips, describing an “entertainment factor” to engage the public.
- Proposal suggests that 800 billionaires each contribute $250 million and war‑profiting corporations also pay to fund the war.
Why it matters: Taxpayers and working families bear the $200 billion price tag while the war enriches defense contractors and fossil‑fuel firms, and the funding request threatens to divert money from renewable energy projects, and could exacerbate inflation and cost‑of‑living pressures for Americans as the war also drives up oil prices and global uncertainty.
