Pentagon Prepares for Smaller Defense Budget Than Trump Seeks
On October 30, Pentagon officials were preparing for the possibility that Congress will not approve President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget. The administration, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth among its members, has advocated for the unprecedented amount to fund projects such as a new battleship and missile defense system, and to replace munitions expended in the war in Iran.
The request has drawn limited bipartisan backing, and Republicans face the possibility of losing control of one or both chambers in the November 3 midterm elections. Pentagon officials are quietly developing a budget roughly $400 billion below Trump’s request, a former official said. Another person familiar with the planning said the department could not publicly acknowledge that preparation because it would conflict with the administration’s public push for the larger package.
The White House hopes to use budget reconciliation to put $350 billion on top of a $1.15 trillion base defense budget. The process would allow the Senate to pass certain spending measures with 51 votes. Some Republican senators have questioned whether the plan could pass if their party loses either chamber. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has warned that a loss of congressional control would make reconciliation less likely.
After the election, lawmakers are expected to have fewer than five weeks to approve several bills before the next Congress convenes. The former official said growing Republican frustration with the administration’s handling of defense made approval of the full $1.5 trillion request unlikely.
Trump’s $1.5 Trillion Defense Push Faces GOP Resistance
On October 30, the Pentagon was preparing for Congress to reject President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense demand, a plan that would fund projects including a battleship and missile shield and replenish munitions used in the war in Iran. Even with Republicans controlling Congress, the request has failed to draw the bipartisan backing it needs.
Officials are quietly developing a spending plan nearly $400 billion below the request, a former official said. The administration has publicly pushed for the full sum, while another person familiar with the planning said the Pentagon could not openly concede that it was preparing for less. The gap between the public demand and the department’s contingency planning underscores the difficulty of getting the package through Congress.
The White House wants to put $350 billion on top of a $1.15 trillion base budget through reconciliation, which can pass the Senate with 51 votes. Some Republican senators doubt that route would work if their party loses either chamber in the November 3 elections. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno has also warned that a loss of congressional control would make reconciliation less likely.
Lawmakers will have under five weeks after the election to consider multiple bills before the next Congress begins. The former official said Republican anger at the administration on defense makes the full request unlikely to pass. A record-setting spending plan that cannot command broad support now faces both political and procedural obstacles.
Election Risk Threatens Trump’s Defense Funding Plan
On October 30, Pentagon officials were quietly preparing a smaller defense budget in case Congress fails to deliver President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion. The request would support a new battleship, a missile defense system and replenishment of munitions used in the war in Iran. The department’s contingency planning points to the risk that Congress will not approve the full amount.
The administration wants to put $350 billion on top of a $1.15 trillion base budget using reconciliation, a process that can pass certain spending measures with 51 Senate votes. But some Republican senators question whether the approach can succeed if their party loses control of either chamber in the November 3 midterms. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno has warned that losing Congress would make the plan less likely to pass.
Pentagon officials are reportedly drawing up an option about $400 billion below Trump’s request. A former official said little expectation remained for approval of the full figure, while another source said the department could not publicly discuss its preparations without contradicting the administration’s position.
Congress will have fewer than five weeks after the election to act on multiple bills before the new term begins. The prospect of Democratic control in either chamber, combined with reported Republican frustration over the administration’s defense approach, threatens the funding strategy. The fallback plan reflects the stakes of an election that could determine whether the administration can advance its budget.
Reported by The Daily Beast, Raw Story.
