House Republican leaders have unveiled a budget plan aimed at bypassing Democratic opposition, proposing $73 billion in additional military funding for the war in Iran and $12 billion for farmers. The proposal also includes severe voting restrictions supported by President Trump.
This marks the initial effort to advance a Pentagon spending request from the White House for the Middle East conflict, which Democrats strongly oppose. They criticize the president for waging a war without congressional approval. The plan also seeks to revive the stalled SAVE Act, criticized by Democrats as voter suppression, yet unable to advance in the Senate.
Spending requests are typically managed via bipartisan appropriations, but due to Democratic resistance against Trump’s priorities on immigration and the Iran war, Republicans are using reconciliation. This budget tactic allows certain fiscal bills to bypass a filibuster.
“House Republicans will unlock a third budget reconciliation to stop Democrat obstruction, support our troops, and safeguard the integrity of our elections,” stated Representative Jodey C. Arrington, chair of the Budget Committee. A vote on this plan is scheduled for Thursday.
The proposal may struggle within the Republican ranks and poses political risks as it comes months before midterm elections. Public opinion polls indicate widespread disapproval of the war funding.
Additionally, there is uncertainty about whether such measures will survive the reconciliation process. President Trump insists on passing the SAVE Act, which enforces citizenship proof for voter registration, additional ID requirements, and limits on mail voting. However, major policy shifts are often excluded from reconciliation bills due to strict rules focusing solely on deficit-impacting measures.