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WASHINGTON: The US Department of Defence needs $80 billion to cover costs from the Iran war as well as other non-war-related bills, Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers in phone calls this week, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
A full US supplemental request, which will include money for the Pentagon as well as non-defence priorities such as farm and disaster relief, could be sent to lawmakers in the coming days, the newspaper added.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House was not immediately available for comment outside business hours when contacted by Reuters.
Pentagon leaders have said they risk running out of money for operations in the coming months unless Congress passes a new wartime spending bill, the newspaper said. The military may need to cut back on training and troop deployment along the US-Mexico border as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, it added.
