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Democratic lawmakers in the United States are expressing growing concerns about the White House's record defense budget request for fiscal year 2027, as the president has warned of the possibility of increased attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
The administration has proposed a budget of about $1.5 trillion for defense, a level that represents an increase of more than 40% compared to last year. This significant increase has fueled debate in Congress, especially among Democrats, who are calling for more care in the use of public funds.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC that the Pentagon already has “more than enough resources” from previous budget appropriations. He stressed that Congress must act as “good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” signaling a more cautious approach to increasing military spending.
On the other hand, Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told NBC that he finds it “difficult” to justify the size of this increase. He added that he does not believe that Congress would be willing to unconditionally approve such a large budget for a team of civilian leaders who, according to him, have shown a lack of effectiveness in the recent period.
Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, also raised concerns about the political and strategic implications of the budget. In an interview with News Nation, he warned that a vote on defense funding could be interpreted as support for a potential authorization of war on Iran.
Smith called such a conflict a “mistake,” but added that if the US decides to continue in that direction, then it should face the costs transparently. According to him, raising taxes would be a more responsible alternative than financing the war through public debt, which he compared to “putting expenses on a credit card.”
The debate over the defense budget is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as Congress considers the administration's request in a tense political and geopolitical climate.
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