The administration of US President Donald Trump has demanded from the Congress (US Parliament) to approve an additional amount of $ 87.6 billion (about Rs 8.25 lakh crore). A large part of this money will be spent on the war with Iran and military expenses related to it. After this demand, the political controversy in Washington has intensified. According to the proposal issued by the White House, out of the total amount, $67.15 billion (about Rs 6.33 lakh crore) has been sought for defense and military needs.
This amount is in addition to the defense budget of approximately 1 trillion dollars, which was approved last year. Along with this, the Trump administration is also asking for a new defense budget of about $1.5 trillion for the next financial year. The White House says that this money will be spent on military operations related to the Iran war, army preparation, replenishing weapons stocks and some confidential defense programs. Out of this, $21 billion (about Rs 1.98 lakh crore) has been kept for purchasing ammunition, increasing American defense production and strengthening the strength of the army.
Proposal to stop military action passed
Meanwhile, opposition to the war is increasing in Congress. On Tuesday, the US Senate passed a resolution asking Trump to stop military action against Iran. Earlier, a similar proposal had also been passed by the House of Representatives. Some Republican lawmakers also supported the Democrat lawmakers.
During the Republican Party meeting on Wednesday, there was a heated debate between Trump and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy was among the leaders who supported the resolution to stop the war. Many MPs from both parties say that the government did not give complete information related to the war to the Parliament. They allege that the President has taken many military decisions without taking Congress into confidence.
Demand for investigation of additional expenditure
Democrat leaders say that instead of spending so much money on war, the government should focus on the country’s economic problems. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticized the proposal, while Senator Patty Murray said support for troops is necessary, but additional war spending should be fully investigated.
There is not only defense expenditure in this package. This also includes $ 1.4 billion to combat the Ebola disease in Africa, $ 11.1 billion to help American farmers, $ 1 billion for pensions of former Delphi employees, $ 500 million for construction projects in Washington and $ 1 billion for the reconstruction of Penn Station in New York.
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