U.S. Representative Abraham Hamadeh on Tuesday asked U.S. Army General Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, why the United States continues to subsidize Iraq while Baghdad is withholding salaries to the Kurdistan Region during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services.

“They have challenges every now and then we end up working through them,” General Kurilla said in response. “They end up getting the salaries, they end up getting the equipment. There are always small frictions that we have to work through, but they are getting what they need.” 

Last month, Iraq’s Federal Ministry of Finance decided to suspend the salaries of public employees in the Kurdistan Region.

Read More: Iraqi Kurdish Parliamentary Blocs Condemn Halt in Salaries

Kurdish factions in a statement on May 29 called on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani “to immediately order the release of the salaries of Kurdistan Region employees and not to tie the rights of citizens to any political or technical disputes.”

Congressman Hamadeh asks General Kurilla:

1⃣Why is America subsidizing Iraq when it is withholding public salaries and military equipment from our Kurdish allies in northern Iraq?

2⃣Is Iran’s stronghold within Iraq increasing, despite the recent setbacks Iran has faced? pic.twitter.com/FLPOdChOId

— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) June 10, 2025

At the Visit Kurdistan launch event on Tuesday, June 9, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani underlined that officials in Baghdad should know that the Kurdistan Region is a legal and constitutional entity established by the Iraqi Constitution.

“The Kurdistan Region must be treated within that framework, not through a centralist mindset and collective punishment of the people of Kurdistan,” he stated.

“We assure our people that we will never give up our constitutional rights, regardless of the pressure.”