All articles tagged with #pentagon budget
CNN reports that Pete Hegseth urged a massive boost to the Pentagon’s budget—described as a historic $1.5 trillion investment—during the renaming ceremony of Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Lindsey Graham. The base houses over 90,000 personnel, Graham’s death last month was noted, and Republicans reportedly remained skeptical of the large budget request amid tensions with Iran.
The day’s headlines: U.S. strikes around 90 Iranian targets as Tehran retaliates against Gulf states, with Trump suggesting the ceasefire may be over; in Maine, Democrat Graham Platner exits the Senate race after a 2021 sexual-assault allegation, prompting a nominating convention as the party searches for a replacement (Patrick Dempsey has already said no); HBO leads the Emmy nominations with top totals for The Pitt and Hacks, while Apple TV shows gain traction; World Cup quarterfinals tip off with France vs. Morocco and Haaland drawing global buzz; and the Pentagon warns it’s running low on funds, seeking a $67 billion supplemental budget to sustain ongoing operations.
Senate Appropriations Chair Mitch McConnell’s three-week hospitalization and uncertain health status threatens to derail Trump’s push for a roughly $350 billion Defense Department boost via a third budget reconciliation bill, complicating the GOP’s path in an already stalled appropriations process ahead of the midterms.
The White House has asked Congress for an $87.6 billion supplemental—about $67 billion for the DoD—to fund a costly Iran war, but critics say the plan lacks cost transparency, doubles the Pentagon's earlier $29 billion estimate, and is loaded with pork like funding for Florida farmers, elevator repairs, memorial restorations, and Penn Station repairs, prompting opposition from lawmakers who argue funds should go through regular appropriations rather than a wartime package.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona criticized the Trump administration’s FY2027 defense budget request of about $1.5 trillion as “outrageous,” noting it would be a 42% increase from 2026 and is nearly the size of defense spending for much of the world. A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he questions costly items like a space-based “Golden Dome” missile system and warns of depleted munitions stocks amid the Iran war, arguing the administration lacks a clear strategy. The White House may seek a supplemental Iran-war package, with cost estimates ranging from about $25 billion to possibly $50 billion, further complicating spending decisions and national security assumptions.
Senate Republicans are pursuing a fast-track immigration-enforcement funding bill that could strand or reallocate Pentagon funds, with talk of attaching Iran-war spending and other defense money to a larger reconciliation package. GOP leaders say they’ll try to pass defense spending if Democrats join, but Rand Paul is undecided and some conservatives warn about debt. Lindsey Graham hints at a broader third reconciliation or bipartisan back-up plan, while House support remains uncertain as the year progresses.
The Pentagon has asked for an additional $200 billion in supplemental funding to sustain the war on Iran, a figure four times higher than earlier estimates and part of a record defense-budget push for 2027. The request has been sent to the White House for review before Congress, with officials signaling it could rise further. Analysts warn that while immediate costs are enormous, the long-term bill—covering veterans’ benefits and interest—could reach trillions, and critics question whether Congress authorized such a costly, potentially protracted conflict.
The US plans to cut funding for military aid programs in European countries bordering Russia, shifting more responsibility to European nations and focusing on the Indo-Pacific, amid broader efforts to reevaluate US foreign aid and military priorities.
Senator Bernie Sanders and Elon Musk find common ground in advocating for cuts to the Pentagon's $886 billion budget, which recently failed its seventh audit. Sanders, typically critical of billionaires like Musk, agrees with Musk's stance on reducing defense spending waste and fraud. Musk, appointed by Donald Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, has also garnered support from other lawmakers like Democratic Rep. Mo Khanna. Additionally, Sanders and Musk share views on reducing the cost of diabetes and weight loss drugs, despite their usual disagreements.
Senator Roger Wicker, poised to chair the Armed Services Committee, plans to push for a significant increase in military spending, including expanding the Navy and Air Force, under a potential Trump administration. Wicker's proposal includes a $55 billion increase over President Biden's defense budget, aiming for military spending to reach 5% of GDP. He also advocates for continued support for Ukraine, despite potential differences with Trump, who has opposed increased U.S. spending on the conflict. Wicker's strategy may influence the GOP's defense budget under Trump.
Senator Roger Wicker is set to chair the Armed Services Committee, advocating for a significant increase in the Pentagon budget with a focus on expanding the Navy and Air Force, modernizing the nuclear arsenal, and supporting Ukraine. His plan includes a $55 billion increase over President Biden's defense budget, aiming for military spending to reach 5% of GDP. Wicker's approach may align with a potential Trump administration, though he will need to navigate internal GOP differences on defense spending and aid to Ukraine.
In a bipartisan vote, the US Congress has authorized a record Pentagon budget for fiscal year 2024, totaling $883.7 billion, an increase of $145 billion since 2020. The budget includes increased military spending aimed at countering threats from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations. The bill also extends military aid to Ukraine and authorizes the transfer of weapons systems to Israel. The increase in war spending comes at a time of rising hunger and homelessness, job cuts, and cuts to social benefits, highlighting the prioritization of military interests over the needs of the working class.