Senate Limits Defense Spending While Pentagon Requests Extra War Funding
參議院限制國防開支，而五角大廈要求額外戰爭資金
Introduction
The United States Senate is limiting the travel budget for the Secretary of Defense until the government provides full reports on civilian deaths. At the same time, the Department of Defense is asking for $80 billion in extra funding to continue military operations in Iran and other regions.
美國參議院在政府提供完整的平民死亡報告之前，正限制國防部長的差旅預算。與此同時，國防部正申請 800 億美元的額外資金，以維持在伊朗及其他地區的軍事行動。
Main Body
The Senate Armed Services Committee has proposed a new law that limits Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel spending to only 25% of its usual amount. This restriction will remain until the Pentagon releases complete reports on civilian casualties. A key focus is the February 2026 attack on a school in Minab, Iran, which killed more than 165 people. Early reports suggest this happened because of outdated intelligence. Furthermore, lawmakers are demanding original video footage of naval operations near Venezuela and investigations into strikes in Yemen from April 2025. Senator Jack Reed emphasized that these steps are necessary to make the military accountable for its actions.
參議院軍事委員會提出了一項新法案，將國防部長 Pete Hegseth 的差旅開支限制在平時的 25%。這項限制將持續直到五角大廈公佈關於平民傷亡的完整報告為止。重點是 2026 年 2 月伊朗 Minab 一所學校遭受襲擊，導致超過 165 人死亡。初步報告指出，這是因為情報過時而發生。此外，議員要求提供委內瑞拉附近海軍行動的原始影片，以及對 2025 年 4 月葉門襲擊事件的調查。參議員 Jack Reed 強調，這些步驟是必要的，是為了令軍方為其行動負責。
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is facing a serious budget shortage. Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers that the military needs $80 billion more to cover the costs of the conflict in Iran. He warned that without this money, the military might run out of essential weapons and have to reduce training exercises. Although the basic 2026 budget is about $1 trillion, there is a political disagreement because the administration did not ask Congress for formal permission to fight the war in Iran. Consequently, some senators insist that the funding must depend on a formal vote, while others suggest using a special budget process to bypass the need for a large majority in the Senate.
與此同時，國防部正面對嚴重的預算短缺。副部長 Stephen Feinberg 告訴議員，軍方需要額外 800 億美元來支付伊朗衝突的開支。他警告，如果沒有這筆錢，軍方可能會缺乏關鍵武器，甚至必須減少訓練演習。雖然 2026 年的基礎預算是約 1 兆美元，但因為行政部門沒有正式向國會申請打伊朗戰爭的許可，所以出現了政治分歧。結果，部分參議員堅持撥款必須經過正式投票，而另一部分人則建議使用特殊預算程序來避開參議院高票通過的要求。
Conclusion
The Department of Defense is currently struggling with two major problems: strict congressional oversight regarding civilian deaths and an urgent need for more money to keep its military operations ready.
國防部目前正面對兩個主要問題：國會對平民死亡事件的嚴格監督，以及急需更多資金來維持軍事行動的準備狀態。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'Connection' Upgrade: Moving from Simple to Sophisticated
At the A2 level, you likely use words like and, but, and because. To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors. These words act as bridges, telling the reader exactly how two ideas relate.
🛠 The 'B2 Power-Ups' found in this text:
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Furthermore (Upgrade from 'also')
- Text Example: "Furthermore, lawmakers are demanding original video footage..."
- Why: It signals that you are adding a new, important point to your argument, not just listing things.
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Consequently (Upgrade from 'so')
- Text Example: "Consequently, some senators insist that the funding must depend..."
- Why: It shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It sounds professional and academic.
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Meanwhile (Upgrade from 'at the same time')
- Text Example: "Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is facing a serious budget shortage."
- Why: It allows you to shift the focus to a different scene or topic while maintaining the timeline.
💡 Practical Application
Compare these two ways of saying the same thing:
A2 Style (Basic): "The military has no money and they have a problem with the Senate. So, they need more help."
B2 Style (Advanced): "The military is facing a budget shortage; furthermore, they are struggling with Senate oversight. Consequently, they are requesting extra funding."
Quick Tip: Try using Consequently next time you explain a result. Instead of saying "I was late, so I missed the bus," try "I woke up late; consequently, I missed the bus."