McHenry on reconciliation and war funding (with Tyler Kendall, Kailey Leinz)

DC is playing chicken with Iran war funding. The administration is slow-walking a supplemental request, creating a Pentagon funding cliff in August. McHenry's core insight: the real problem is the lack of a coherent Iran endgame strategy. Congress is signaling it will force the administration's hand, with close War Powers votes serving as a warning shot. This infighting is creating toxic, 'no-win' votes for the GOP, obscuring their policy victories.

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Former House Financial Services Committee 2.5
Government Agency
Patrick McHenry 8.5

McHenry on reconciliation and war funding (with Tyler Kendall, Kailey Leinz)

Asks why the administration hasn't submitted a supplemental funding request for the Iran conflict, given the Pentagon may run out of funds by August.

Tyler Kendall
Patrick McHenry

The prioritization is reopening DHS and border security first. There is 'itchiness' among policymakers about recent presidential decisions. The endgame for Iran is unclear and more difficult than anticipated.

Chairman Cole's public statement about an August deadline is significant, indicating private talks haven't yielded a supplemental.
Asks if a War Powers resolution could pass the House, given the close vote last time.

Kailey Leinz
Patrick McHenry

Votes are so close they depend on 'sicknesses and absences'. The administration claims a 'pause' in actions, making timelines irrelevant, but this conflicts with diminishing funds.

This is not the way to run a great ship of state.
Asks if Congress will use appropriations to exert authority, given a War Powers veto is likely.

Tyler Kendall
Patrick McHenry

Congress must step in with a supplemental; accounts are not big enough. The canary in the coal mine is these resolutions, signaling a need for a plan.

People will go to jail for moving money between accounts inappropriately.
Asks about the political difficulty of voting for the $1.776B weaponization fund and the ballroom.

Kailey Leinz
Patrick McHenry

The weaponization fund vote is a 'no-win situation' for vulnerable Republicans. The ballroom is a talking point, but the DOJ slush fund is a real problem with a majority of both chambers speaking against it.

I'd rather be the Democrats on that vote.
Asks if this is a messaging or policy problem for Republicans, given they are getting immigration funding.

Tyler Kendall
Patrick McHenry

Events overtake messaging. Border security is a winning issue but not being touted. The housing bill passing with a bigger bipartisan majority in the House is a win for the process.

This is what happens when you're a governing majority.

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