Welcome to Washington: Trump Puts Republicans in a Tricky Spot on Iran War Funding

As America nears the 60-day mark since the start of the war with Iran, some Republicans on Capitol Hill are soon going to be put in an uncomfortable spot. The president’s supplemental funding request for military operations is due to be released soon, at the very moment when Americans are turning sharply against the conflict and declaring the president an ill steward of the nation’s economy. Welcome to Washington, where Congress has officially kicked off this year’s budget-writing process with a series of committee hearings on Capitol Hill. What is clearly bothering some lawmakers amid this typically bipartisan process, however, is that they have too few answers on the goals and end strategies of President Trump’s war with the Islamic Republic. When the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, was pressed by members of Congress this week, he had little to say. “We are working on a supplemental for Congress for additional needs. We’re working through that review process. Part of it is the length of the war,” Mr. Vought told Senator Jeff Markley, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, during a hearing last week.When pressed on the estimate of how much money has been spent so far on the war, Mr. Vought said he would not make a “characterization” in that setting. “My guess is if you were to be inside of the Department of War, these costs would fluctuate,” Mr. Vought said. “I think it’s hard to give you an average cost, and that’s one of the reasons we’re gonna come after much work and review to give you a full request when the time comes.” At the same hearing, when pressed by Senator Patty Murray on the same issues, Mr. Vought again dodged. “We don’t have that figure right now … but it’s one of the reasons we are studiously reviewing” the information, he said, before Ms. Murray cut him off. “You can’t even give us a range?” she asked. “No, I’m not going to give you a range because I don’t want to be inaccurate,” Mr. Vought responded. Many lawmakers say they expect to receive more clarity from the administration in the next two weeks if the fighting continues. Under the War Powers Act, Mr. Trump has 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval. With the first American missiles falling in Iranian territory on February 28, the 60th day of the conflict will be Thursday, April 30. Senator Thom Tillis, a retiring Republican from North Carolina, says he wants to see the administration come to the Hill for approval if the war cannot be ended. “I have said from the very beginning that if the military hostilities in Iran continue to that 60th day, then I believe the War Powers Act is implemented, and the president would need congressional authorization to continue the war in Iran,” Mr. Tillis said last week at Semafor’s economy summit last week.The real problem for many Republican lawmakers is that they may soon be put on the record about whether or not they affirmatively support the Iran war. Congress has voted down several War Powers Act resolutions with respect to Iran in order to give the president latitude. Now, however, Mr. Trump may need their blessing to continue an increasingly unpopular war. On Sunday, NBC News released a poll showing Mr. Trump with his lowest approval rating of his second term, with voters souring on his handling of both the economy and the war. According to that poll, only 39 percent approved of his overall job performance while 55 percent said they disapproved. His approval rating on inflation and the cost of living was about the same, with 40 percent approving of his job performance and 60 percent disapproving. Mr. Trump’s approval rating on the Iran war, however, was especially low. Two-thirds of Americans — 67 percent — disapprove of how he has handled the conflict while a mere 33 percent say he has done well. When the House last week voted down a War Powers Act resolution that could have forced Mr. Trump to seek congressional authorization, one Democrat sided with Republicans to back up the president.That Democrat, Congressman Jared Golden, said he did not want to see America’s hand weakened as negotiations with Iran were ongoing. Now that those talks have seemingly fallen apart, and with the 60-day deadline fast approaching, Republicans will shortly have to choose whether they want to stand with the president at a time when his approval rating has never been lower.

Welcome to Washington: Trump Puts Republicans in a Tricky Spot on Iran War Funding

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