Trump Pushes $350 Billion Defense Bill Through Reconciliation as Senate Republicans Balk
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 13
Trump Pushes $350 Billion Defense Bill Through Reconciliation as Senate Republicans Balk
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 13
Summary
$350 billion in new defense spending is at the center of Trump’s call for Republicans to pass a third reconciliation bill without Democratic votes, extending this week’s use of the fast-track process beyond immigration agencies.
That push collides with the regular funding process, already behind schedule before the Sept. 30 deadline, as Senate appropriators canceled meetings for a second straight week amid a standoff over spending levels.
$1.5 trillion is Trump’s requested military budget for the next fiscal year—a 44% jump—while his $660 billion nondefense request is a 10% cut, terms Democrats say are too lopsided to support.
Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Thune all signaled reservations or only conditional openness, and House Republicans still lack consensus, leaving another reconciliation package difficult with razor-thin GOP margins.
The fight adds to a broader erosion of bipartisan budgeting: Congress has not finished annual funding bills on time since 1997, and the government has already shut down three times in Trump’s second term.
When a deficit-reduction tool is used to increase spending, what options remain to control national debt?
As procedural workarounds replace budget negotiation, what ensures accountability for how taxpayer money is spent?
How will new executive rules on federal grants reshape scientific research and non-profit work?
Trump’s Historic $1.5 Trillion Military Budget Meets Republican Resistance Before 2026 Elections
Overview
President Donald Trump has proposed a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for Fiscal Year 2027, marking a 40-44% increase over current military spending and the highest in modern history. This dramatic boost comes as the U.S.-Iran war continues, with the administration emphasizing the urgent need to restock munitions and prioritize military protection above all else. To fund this increase, Trump’s budget also calls for $73 billion in cuts to domestic programs like health, housing, and education, arguing that the federal government cannot support both military needs and safety-net programs at the same time.