WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Thursday called on Congress to approve billions of dollars in additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before lawmakers leave for their Christmas break. President Bush wants Congress to approve his request for war spending before the holidays. He said the Army will have to shut down bases and start furloughing between 100,000 and 200,000 civilian workers by mid-February if Congress does not clear the funds. "Pentagon officials have warned Congress that the continued delay in funding our troops will soon begin to have a damaging impact on the operations of this department," Bush said Thursday. "The warning has been laid out for the United States Congress to hear."
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Dems have said they plan to hold Bush's request for war spending until next year
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$50 billion war spending bill passed the House but stalled last week in the Senate
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Bush called on Congress to approve funds "without strings and without delay"
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Pentagon says Army will have to make major cutbacks if it doesn't get the funds
Congressional Democrats have disputed that, saying the @placeholder could shift existing funds to continue the efforts.