House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump's priorities

By — Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-republicans-adopt-95-billion-package-for-the-iran-war-and-trumps-priorities Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump's priorities Politics Jul 22, 2026 5:32 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal Wednesday, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the midterm elections. House Republicans were divided over the plan, with conservatives wary because there are no offsetting budget cuts. But Speaker Mike Johnson plunged ahead, viewing the go-it-alone process as the best chance to usher President Donald Trump's priorities through the split Congress, despite skepticism in the Senate. READ MORE: House passes temporary government funding bill months early The vote tally was 216-214, with all Democrats opposed. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. "Just bullets and bombs to finish the job," said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the chairman of the Budget Committee. Democrats argued the money should be spent at home, particularly on efforts to lower costs for Americans. WATCH: Hegseth, Caine defend Trump's funding request to Congress as Iran war reignites "Republicans plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on Trump's failed war in Iran," said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, chairman of the House Democratic caucus, this week. "Think about what we could spend with these resources instead." The Congress is at a standstill over the U.S. war against Iran — unable to stop Trump's military strikes, but not having authorized the use of American military force — and politically torn over having to provide billions of taxpayer dollars to pay for it. Most Americans disapprove of Trump's Iran strategy, according to a recent AP-NORC poll. The budget battle comes as Trump attended the dignified transfer of four service members killed in the Middle East, bringing the military death toll to 18. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators at a fiery hearing this week that the Pentagon is running short of cash, despite a massive $150 billion one-time allotment in last year's big budget bill. Even if the House hauls the budget resolution forward, Johnson's strategy faces uncertainty in the Senate. WATCH: Trump attends dignified transfer of 4 U.S. service members killed in the Middle East The package has $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers struggling under Trump's tariffs and $10 billion for voting law changes aligned with the SAVE America Act and proof of citizenship requirements that are Trump's top priority. A once