Treasury Secretary denies Americans will pay for Trump’s war in Iran | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJohn BowdenSunday 22 March 2026 19:30 GMTTrump and Hegseth defend wanting $200Bn more for Iran warTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Americans would not face tax increases to fund the Pentagon's reported $200 billion request for the ongoing war in Iran, claiming the government has sufficient funds.Bessent, appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, asserted that the military's $1 trillion budget is adequate, with the supplemental request intended to further build out the armed forces.The war, now in its fourth week, has led to a surge in global oil prices and increased gas prices in the U.S. due to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz.Congress is expected to face significant opposition to the funding request, with both Democrats and Republicans expressing skepticism and Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating uncertainty about its passage.President Donald Trump and his administration have offered shifting objectives for the conflict, ranging from degrading Iran's missile capacity to regime change, while the president continues to insist the war is won despite ongoing clashes and the deaths of 13 American service members.In fullBessent promises Americans won’t face tax hikes to fund Trump’s war in Iran: ‘We have plenty’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in