Trump administration seeks more funds for war in Iran – NBC Boston

New England’s congressional delegation sounded off Tuesday as the Trump administration sought additional funding for the war in Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified on Capitol Hill, asking Congress for $87 billion in supplemental funds, $67 billion of which is directly tied to defense spending and snuffing out Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“The briefings he’s provided for us through his cabinet secretaries have been very cryptic,” said Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts.

“The president has created a crisis. He’s got to solve it,” said Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-New Hampshire.

Political commentator Sue O’Connell talks about the state of the war.

“At what point do you stop asking Americans to foot the bill for a war they don’t support?” Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire asked during Tuesday’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Several heated exchanges punctuated the lengthy hearing.

“I would hope for some perspective in this town of the historic nature of what President Trump is undertaking,” Hegseth said. “Do you want radical Islamists to have a nuclear bomb?”

“I don’t want to hear your speech,” Shaheen responded. “If you can’t answer my question, then I will move on.”

Democrats and Republicans questioned the long-term strategy after fighting resumed between the U.S. and Iran, with three servicemembers confirmed dead in recent days.

Former State Department officials spoke to NBC10 Boston about the difficulties of negotiating with Iran and why a diplomatic solution could remain out of reach.

“The Iranian strategy is to make everybody miserable,” said former State Department official Glen Johnson, recalling lengthy talks on the Iran nuclear deal reached in 2015. “I remember holidays, months going by, where we spent time in hotels across Switzerland and in the Palais Coburg in Vienna, trying to reach an agreement with them.”

President Donald Trump pulled out of that agreement during his first term.

The headwinds continue to draw skepticism from some on Capitol Hill.

“Not one dollar for this illegal war,” said Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts.

In addition to funding the war, the money requested would provide aid to U.S. farmers and address the Ebola outbreak in Africa.