U.S. House of Representatives Approves Budget Plan to Fund War on Iran

SadaNews Economy - Republicans in the House of Representatives have approved a $95 billion budget plan, aimed primarily at financing President Donald Trump's war on Iran, despite growing concerns that the unpopular conflict and rising energy prices may threaten Republican lawmakers' chances in the midterm elections.

The budget plan is part of a two-step process that will allow Republicans to expedite the approval of $73 billion to cover costs associated with the war on Iran, despite objections from Democrats, the minority in the Senate.

The measure will also pave the way for billions of dollars in aid to farmers affected by foreign retaliatory responses to Trump's tariff increases, as well as the war-related increases in fuel and supply costs.

House Speaker Mike Johnson united his divided caucus behind the plan, which passed by a vote of 216 to 214. Conservatives voted in favor of the plan, which will fund all its new expenses by increasing the federal budget deficit, after Johnson's team promised to seek cuts in spending after the November elections.

No Democrat in the House voted in favor of the budget resolution, with party leaders stating their intention to make the vote to greenlight funding for the war on Iran a central focus in their campaign to regain control of the House in the November elections.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in the House chamber shortly before the vote: "Donald Trump's reckless and costly war, which he chose to fight, has led to a huge spike in gas prices for ordinary Americans." He added: "What we should be doing is using taxpayer money to make life more affordable for the American people."

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers portrayed the vote as a matter of supporting U.S. forces engaged in combat abroad.

Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, said in the House chamber: "Regardless of how you feel about current events, this funding is necessary to ensure our fighting forces remain ready, pay our troops, and safeguard our nation."

The conflict has shown signs of escalation after the United States completed its eleventh consecutive day of attacks on Iran, with the remains of several U.S. service members killed in recent days arriving in Dover, Delaware.

Trump has pledged to bomb bridges and power stations in Iran if Tehran continues to attack shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian leaders have threatened to respond in kind.

Threatened Republican lawmakers facing elections in competitive districts are confronting widespread public opposition to the war. About 60% of Americans said that the war on Iran was not worth it, while only 34% said the military action was justified, according to a Quinnipiac University poll last month.

Republican senators are also not in a hurry to vote on war funding, even after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged the Senate on Tuesday to cover the $37.5 billion that he said his department has already spent on the conflict with Iran.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that passing the House budget would be "no easy task." Senate members may delay war funding until after the elections.

Republicans in the Senate are sharply divided between defense hawks who are keen on securing additional billions to fund the Pentagon and deficit hawks who want spending cuts that are unpopular among moderates in swing states.