President Obama on Monday asked Congress for $5.6 billion to fight the terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
In a letter to House Speaker John A. Boehner, the president formally requested the money as part of the Defense Department’s overseas contingency operations budget, which would total $58.6 billion for fiscal year 2015 if the administration’s proposal is agreed upon.
“These amendments include the additional funding necessary to degrade and ultimately defeat [the Islamic State] through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy,” Mr. Obama said in his letter.
At a press conference last week, the president said he also wants to work with Congress to pass new legislation authorizing U.S. military force in Iraq and Syria.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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