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 . '' Defense Secretary Robert Gates already has ordered the Army and Marine Corps to plan for cutbacks , including civilian layoffs , termination of contracts and reduced operations at bases , The Associated Press reported . A $ 50 billion war spending bill , which would have required U.S. troops to begin leaving Iraq within 30 days , passed the House but stalled last week in the Senate -- with Republicans balking at the withdrawal provision . Speaking at the Pentagon , Bush called on Congress to approve the funds `` without strings and without delay . '' Watch Bush issue his stern warning » . In May , Bush vetoed another spending bill that included a non-binding goal of having combat troops out of Iraq by early next year . Majority Democrats in Congress eventually approved funds without that provision . The $ 50 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan that was approved by the House is about a quarter of what the administration requested . Congressional Democrats have disputed that , saying the Pentagon could shift existing funds to continue the efforts . `` The president demands more money to continue his failed war policy , yet he and his enablers in Congress have rejected our proposal for an additional $ 50 billion provided they work with us to change course in Iraq , '' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid . `` He can not have it both ways . '' Rep. John Murtha , a Pennsylvania Democrat who chairs the subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending , said Thursday that House leaders may be open to a compromise on the spending plan . Just back from a visit to Iraq , Murtha -- a retired Marine colonel and Vietnam veteran -- said leadership may consider pushing back the deadline for troop withdrawal . `` We can get the troops out , but we ca n't get the equipment out probably in less than in two years , '' Murtha said . `` It 's not logical unless we leave an awful lot of equipment there to think we can . '' At a briefing with reporters , Murtha said the situation in Baghdad has improved . `` I think the surge is working , but that 's only one element , '' he said . Murtha stressed that the administration needs to improve diplomatic efforts and provide Congress with an outline for how troops would be redeployed after an Iraq withdrawal . A spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the speaker has no intention of backing off a goal of having U.S. troops out of Iraq by next December and does not plan to revisit war funding before the end of the year . `` The speaker has said we will not initiate any funding legislation for the war this year , '' said spokesman Nadeam Elshami . `` The House has already passed $ 50 billion . '' E-mail to a friend .
Dems have said they plan to hold Bush 's request for war spending until next year . $ 50 billion war spending bill passed the House but stalled last week in the Senate . Bush called on Congress to approve funds `` without strings and without delay '' Pentagon says Army will have to make major cutbacks if it does n't get the funds .