Washington D.C. — The Trump administration’s request for $87.5 billion in emergency funding is a reality check and a reminder of the staggering costs of this war. Thirteen U.S. service members lost their lives. Billions in munitions were spent, creating weapons shortages that will take years to fix. And American families have paid an average of $1,000 in higher food and gas prices since the start of the conflict. All for a needless conflict that failed to achieve any of its objectives.
It’s also a reminder of how this administration misleads the public while enriching members of the Trump family through Department of War contracts. For months, the administration downplayed the costs of the war, suggesting a price tag of less than half of what they’ve now requested. Meanwhile, as the war raged, Trump’s oldest sons expanded their business interests into a drone company that later inked a weapons deal with the Air Force. In total, companies backed by the Trump family have received hundreds of millions in defense deals. With this new request, well-connected contractors stand to gain even more of the public’s money.
Given these extraordinary costs and the potential for further self-dealing, Congress should go through the regular appropriations process to review and address new defense needs as a consequence of this reckless and unnecessary war. It should demand a clear accounting of the money spent already and meaningful guardrails on future spending. With Trump threatening to take military action in Cuba next, Congress should also place restrictions that prevent him from starting another costly, disastrous war.
This request also includes $1.4 billion in foreign assistance funding to address the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, a remarkable admission by the administration that their actions last year to gut U.S. global health programs have weakened our ability to identify and respond to the spread of infectious diseases. Congress should fully restore global health and humanitarian assistance programs that save countless lives and help prevent pandemics from reaching our shores.
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