Monday, February 02, 2004

The Bush administration will ask Congress in coming months for up to $50 billion more for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the White House budget director said Monday.

The request would represent the third major request to pay for U.S. activities in those countries since last spring. Though Congress has approved most of President Bush's defense proposals with little complaint since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the White House is under growing criticism from Republicans for overall spending that has grown rapidly in his administration.

The money would be on top of $401.7 billion in defense spending that Bush included in the $2.4 trillion budget for 2005 he sent lawmakers Monday.

Congress approved $87 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan in November, and had approved an earlier $79 billion package last spring. Most of those funds were for U.S. military operations in the two countries.

9:31 AM |