Most Democrats are opposed to the supplemental funding request, and there is discontent in Republican ranks too.
Some of the fiscal hawks in the Republican Party want spending cuts elsewhere to offset the budget.
Either way, the House of Representatives leaves town on Thursday and the two chambers of Congress will not be jointly back in session until September.
Even if Republicans can muster the votes, it’s going to be a couple of months before the Pentagon can get the funds.
During Hegseth’s hearing, Trump – who was at the White House – posted a list of longer, bloodier US wars, noting their duration and death toll.
He wrote on Truth Social that 18 had died so far in the US war with Iran, which began on 28 February.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced the death of Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old US soldier, in Iraq. It also said another US soldier Sgt Angel Rampersad, 28, was believed dead in Jordan.
A day earlier, the military identified two other US service personnel killed in action in Jordan as Pfc Isabella Gonzales, 19, and 1st Lt Tyler Feehan, 25.
Trump is due to go to an air base in the US state of Delaware on Wednesday morning as the soldiers’ flag-draped coffins arrive home.
Source:
www.bbc.co.uk
