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Dozens of reporters and photographers followed House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, out of the Capitol and across the Capitol grounds last Thursday morning.
The Trump administration plans to ask Congress for an additional $200 billion to cover the cost of the Iran war. Passing such a program can be difficult. Especially voting for the 60 vote barrier in the Senate. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Arrington had already proposed this year’s “reconciliation” bill to pass some of the GOP’s domestic policy priorities before the midterms. Reconciliation is immune to a Senate filibuster. And some Republicans may be on board with an additional $200 billion if it’s included in a reconciliation package that addresses other subjects.
“I think reconciliation is going to be the only vehicle we can put anything into because the Democrats won’t support it,” Arrington said, walking down a set of congressional steps along the plaza, which leads to Independence Avenue. “I don’t think they’re going to support supporting the operational needs of our troops while they’re arguing.”
“The Senate seems to be the suspect in trying to do this,” yours truly followed as a throng of reporters and photographers walked up and down the Capitol grounds toward the street.
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Standard traffic signs are constantly changing. Political symbols do not do the same. (Aaron Schwartz/AFP via Getty Images)
“The Senate will be suspect and slow to be encouraged. That’s why the House is the little engine that can’t. And if the little engine can’t, do it, the Senate and other people will follow. The House should lead,” replied Arrington. “We led the first reconciliation bill. It wouldn’t have been big or good if we hadn’t done our job on tax cuts. On spending cuts. On energy reforms. On social reforms.”
The scrum is stunned along Independence Avenue in the shadow of the Longworth House Office Building.
“I have to cross here. I’m late for a meeting. You can follow me,” Arrington ordered, speaking to the media, darting through the intersection as the traffic light turned green.
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Three reporters followed the Texas Republican on the street. Well, your faithful reporter (and Wayne Elementary School Safety Town participant) is sitting around the corner.
Two cars and a bus sped by.
“Stop! Be careful! Be careful! Be careful! Be careful! Be careful!” I shouted.
Arrington and the others crept back to the edge.
“Look, you lead. They follow. But they might die,” Arrington commented.
“Are you going to lead the Senate into the traffic lane?” I asked.
Arrington responded — both back to the curb and to the policy — as cars and scooters passed.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, says he thinks “reconciliation will probably be the only vehicle we can put anything into.” (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“I think my colleague, (Senate Budget Committee Chair) Lindsey Graham, RS.C., understands that the only train leaving the station to get a big vision for our military is going to be the reconciliation bill,” Arrington said.
It’s not clear whether Arrington switching to rail and trains was the best way to talk considering the phone’s proximity to the road. But Arrington may be right. It will be a challenge to convey anything of value throughout this Conference. And perhaps spending $200 billion on war as a way to reconcile some of the sweeter policy would be a more palatable option for Republicans.
“We have to continue to look at offsetting,” said Rep. Tony Wied, R-Wis.
“I think it should be fixed,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.
“It’s expensive,” House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., acknowledged about the spending request.
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But the offsets come from cutting. And lawmakers don’t like to cut important programs in their area, state or region.
“A lot of VA stuff, that’s like the third rail in politics. You don’t cut that,” Bost said.
What can affect the offset? Arrington suggested that Republicans should turn to the time-tested Washington law firm “Waste, Fraud and Abuse” to reduce the cost of war.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said “no” when asked about the spending request.
“Prices are going up on everything across the board, and Congress hasn’t agreed. And for us to have the audacity to come to Congress to fund a war that we never voted for — it’s not only illegal, it’s insulting,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said a firm “no” to the request to spend more money, saying “we cannot allow this type of reckless and illegal behavior.” (Jenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
I asked if it was dangerous for lawmakers to leave the American military in the lurch when faced with conflicts abroad.
“They should have thought about that before they argued outside of Congress,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “They told everyone it was a quick strike and they came in and out and now they’re in trouble. And we can’t do this kind of reckless and illegal behavior.”
Ocasio-Cortez points to the ultimate authority of Congress: the fund power. Lawmakers are charged with approving 12 spending bills to run the government each year. Additional spending package – say war, terrorism, recovery from natural disasters or economic recovery – fine to spend the “thirteenth”. Posted on top of traditional 12. Lawmakers can stop the war in Iran if they decide to withdraw funding.
The White House received nearly $1 trillion from Congress in Fiscal Year 2026 for the military. President Trump’s Pentagon request for Fiscal Year 2027 – still unapproved – is $1.5 trillion. That’s a 50 percent increase. That particular request by Congress came before the $200 billion request for war on Iran.
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The president has sent different signals as to whether the war is “ending”. A reporter asked President Trump if he still needed $200 billion.
“It’s always nice to have. It’s a hot country. And the Democrats are hot,” the president replied.
But it is widely believed that the Pentagon needs the money because it has been burned by so many weapons in Iran.
So this request for more spending should get around the traffic of Congress.
Regular traffic signs and pedestrians are constantly changing. But not really political symbols. There is no way right now for lawmakers to spend an additional $200 billion on war. That’s because the “no go” light is flashing.
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The question now is how long it takes for the light to change. Or, if you like always the cycle has passed. Otherwise, Congressional leaders could put the bill on the floor — and be cut off by the political bus.
