WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has formally requested more than $200 billion from Congress to sustain American military operations against Iran, marking one of the largest wartime appropriations since the Iraq invasion two decades ago.

Administration officials express deep skepticism about congressional approval for the massive funding package, particularly given growing fiscal concerns on Capitol Hill. The request comes as military expenses have spiraled beyond initial Pentagon projections, with operational costs exceeding $11 billion during the first seven days of combat operations alone.

"The scale of this conflict requires unprecedented resources," said former Pentagon budget analyst Michael Richardson. "We're seeing the kind of expenditure rates that typically accompany major conventional warfare, not limited regional operations." The funding would cover everything from munitions replenishment to extended deployment costs across multiple theater commands.

Congressional leadership has yet to schedule hearings on the appropriation request, with several senior lawmakers privately questioning the open-ended nature of the commitment. Defense analyst Sarah Chen from the Brookings Institution noted that "Congress approved Iraq war funding incrementally, and we're likely to see similar resistance to blank check military spending, especially given current domestic priorities."