U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan is on a week-long trip through the Middle East. Experts say he might be gauging how much money is needed for a potential troop surge in Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, Buchanan met with Florida troops at the Resolute Support Station in Kabul.

“In Afghanistan on a national security trip,” tweeted Rep. Buchanan. “Met w/FL troops, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and Afghan President. #sayfie"

The congressman also tweeted photos of himself eating lunch with Florida troops from Orlando, Panama City and St. Augustine.

Buchanan met with Afghanistan Military Operations Commander Gen. John Nicholson to reportedly discuss more national security topics with the Afghan President and the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, among other lawmakers on the trip.

“Maintaining strong ties with our allies in the fight against terrorism is critical to our national security,” said Buchanan to reporters during the trip. “It was an honor and privilege to meet some of the Florida soldiers keeping us safe overseas.”

The Congressional Delegation trip is a scouting mission of sorts to see how much money will be needed in order to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.

Rep. Buchanan has an essential part in this process because he is on the Ways and Means Committee in the House. They write the laws to fund the government.

A couple of weeks ago, during a congressional hearing, Gen. Nicholson stunned the Senate panel when he said U.S. Coalition Forces are in a stalemate with the Taliban and about 20 other terrorist groups.

"I have adequate resourcing in my counter terrorism mission. And, in my train and assist mission, we have a shortfall of a few thousand,” said Gen. Nicholson.  “This is the NATO Assist Mission. It can come from the U.S. and allies."

Gen. Nicholson called for the troop surge but did not specify how many would be needed.

A report in January by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction mentioned as of Dec. 31, 2016 the U.S. has spent $117 billion for relief and reconstruction in Afghanistan since the war started in 2002.

“This total can be divided into four major categories of reconstruction funding: security, governance and development, humanitarian, and oversight and operations,” read the report.

Secretary of Defense Ret. General James Mattis was in Iraq on Monday.

He said he's very close to giving his assessment to President Trump on whether to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon Chief was scheduled to fly into the country to meet with commanders and leaders ahead of the Congressional trip, but bad weather got in the way.

Right now, troop levels are limited at a pre-set level determined by the previous Obama administration. If changes are made, it'll become yet another big foreign policy decision in the early days of the Trump administration.