The Obama administration said Friday that it “strongly objects” to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision to reduce by $900 million the president’s request for funding of Afghan security forces in the coming fiscal year.

The Obama administration requested $7.5 billion for the Afghan security forces. U.S. military commanders say a force increase is necessary to blunt advances made by the Taliban and al Qaeda in the almost eight-year-old war.

The money would be provided by the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations bill, which the Senate will continue debating next week.

The administration also objected to the inclusion of $2.5 billion for 10 C-17 transport aircraft in the bill.

But the White House said that it otherwise supports the spending measure.

“This legislation, as approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, advances many initiatives in line with the president’s goals,” according to the Office of Management and Budget.