House Republicans unveil a $95 billion plan for the Iran war, farm aid
and elections
[July 16, 2026]
By KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $95 billion
legislative plan focused on boosting defense, aiding farmers and
enacting stricter voter registration rules, a sequel to the massive tax
and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law last
year.
The 47-page outline, called a budget resolution, is a long-shot
undertaking designed to supplement Pentagon funding for the Iran war and
address Trump’s top priority of changing voter registration
requirements. A more ambitious effort was narrowed to address concerns
from some conservatives about adding to the deficit. The plan does not
seek any offsets to pay for the new spending.
House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed ahead after meeting with Trump at the
White House this week in what will be the Republicans’ calling card to
voters this fall heading into the midterm elections, with control of
Congress at stake.
“Safeguarding American elections and strengthening our national defense
are the most basic responsibilities of Congress,” Johnson said in a
statement.
Johnson welcomed the chance to again use a legislative process that
would allow Republicans to overpower Democratic objections and
eventually approve legislation on a party-line vote, saying the
Democrats won’t be able to block the GOP's priorities “any longer.”
Democrats, however, have argued against the sharply partisan path,
particularly for matters of war funding.
The Budget Committee is expected to consider the outline Thursday, ahead
of floor action in the House next week.
Billions of dollars for the Iran war
The bulk of the $95 billion that Republicans will seek would go for the
U.S.-led war against Iran, reflecting the White House's request for
supplemental spending to rebuild stockpiles and fund classified
programs.
The resolution calls for the House Armed Services Committee to craft
legislation that will not increase deficits through 2036 by more than
$60 billion; the Select Committee on Intelligence, $13 billion; the
Agriculture Committee, $12 billion; and the House Administration
Committee, $10 billion.
The latter funding would be focused on enacting aspects of an election
law overhaul that requires those registering to vote to provide proof of
citizenship and is a top Trump priority. Republicans have said their
focus is on enhancing election integrity, but Democrats say it's about
suppressing voter turnout, particularly among married women, seniors and
minorities who don't have ready access to the documents they would need
to present when registering to vote.
Overall, the plan for defense spending is on par with a request the
White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past
four months. But it falls far short of the $350 billion increase the
White House proposed earlier this year to boost defense resources.
Approving extra war funding will be difficult, even among Republicans
supporting the Iran effort, as the nation confronts staggering annual
deficits reaching nearly $2 trillion this year.
Trump pushes Congress for voting law changes
Both the House and the Senate would have to pass the same budget
resolution to launch the crafting of the party-line bill, which is
politically difficult in a Congress where Republicans hold a narrow
majority.
Along with the war funds, the package Republicans are pursuing would
include $10 billion for the GOP's effort to impose strict proof of
citizenship requirements in line with provisions of the SAVE America
Act, which has been a top Trump priority.
Trump has insisted that Republicans approve the elections overhaul bill,
which has passed the House but does not have the votes to overcome the
60-vote threshold in the Senate. So Republicans are looking to get parts
of it through the arduous reconciliation process that allows both
chambers to pass a bill with a simple majority.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news
conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Overall, passage of the package would be a lengthy process, with
much of the action taking place after lawmakers return from their
August recess and during the heart of election season. Johnson told
reporters his goal is for both chambers to pass the budget framework
before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.
Vice President JD Vance met with House Republicans in the afternoon,
saying he wanted to give them a message of unity. He said they've
accomplished a lot, but needed to stick together to get “one very
big thing” done.
“We've got a good piece of legislation to support the troops,
support the farmers and get SAVE America Act passed,” Vance said.
Democrats mount opposition to the GOP package
The additional aid for farmers dealing with higher gas and
fertilizer prices has become an election year priority for many
lawmakers with rural constituencies.
But even the addition of farm aid is unlikely to be an incentive for
Democrats to lend support for what is essentially a Republican-only
bill. Democrats are expected to overwhelmingly oppose whatever final
product emerges and force Republicans to take votes on scores of
difficult amendments.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, the lead Democratic lawmaker on the House Budget
Committee, said the GOP’s budget plan would lead to tens of billions
of dollars in additional debt to fund what he called the most
unpopular war in American history.
“I’m going to fight like hell to make sure taxpayer dollars are
being used to lower costs and make life better for American
families, not to bankroll Trump’s giveaways to billionaires and
endless wars overseas,” Boyle said.
Johnson, of Louisiana, applauded Budget Committee Chairman Jodey
Arrington, R-Texas, and others on the panel for moving swiftly to
tee up the resolution and unlock what would be Republicans' third
reconciliation bill this Congress.
Trump's big tax breaks bill last year and the Homeland Security
funding bill this year both passed largely along party lines.
Arrington said several factors contributed to the decision not to
offset some of the new spending Republicans will seek. First, the
Trump administration’s call for more defense spending was winnowed
to just meeting replenishment needs during a time of war. Second, he
was concerned that some of the savings generated in last year’s
party line bill could be relitigated and stripped out if the Senate
Finance Committee had been instructed to find offsets.
Republicans could have tried to work with Democrats to pass more
defense spending through the regular budgeting process or through an
emergency spending bill, but that would require bipartisan support
to get through the Senate. And Democrats likely would have sought
commensurate spending increases for non-defense priorities.
“There’s no doubt that Democrats would exact a big price,” Arrington
said. “… We avoided that, so I would say in this moment, with this
scenario, that’s a win.”
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