Terror War Budget May Fall Short

The war in Afghanistan and the Pentagon’s efforts to bolster security at home will cost a projected $30 billion this year, far more than Congress has provided, according to Defense Department documents obtained by Associated Press.

President Bush and Congress have given the Pentagon $17.4 billion for the war and the domestic fight against terrorism this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Other federal agencies have received billions more.

The Defense Department estimate means that an additional $12.6 billion could be needed in the next seven months for the department’s operations in the U.S., Afghanistan or wherever else it may be combating terrorists.

“If operations continue to accrue as experienced to date, available funding will be exhausted by April or May,” the 50-page report says.

Bush is expected to ask lawmakers in March for extra money for the conflict in Afghanistan and efforts to improve domestic security, including at airports.

The White House budget office has not made a final decision about how much the administration will request for the Pentagon and other agencies. Even so, the figure represents a first glimpse of the magnitude of expenses that Defense Department officials believe they are facing.

“We’re still working on the requests, and we will submit the information to Congress when we’re ready,” said Amy Call, a spokeswoman for the White House budget office.