Johnson, Hegseth Push Billions in Defense Funds as GOP Hawks Resist 3rd Budget Bill
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg Government · Jun 24
Johnson, Hegseth Push Billions in Defense Funds as GOP Hawks Resist 3rd Budget Bill
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg Government · Jun 24
Summary
Less than two hours after briefing the Republican Study Committee, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Speaker Mike Johnson and said they discussed the "dire need" for supplemental defense spending tied to the Iran war.
Republicans and the Trump administration are weighing two paths: a budget reconciliation bill that could pass with only GOP votes, or a supplemental package that would need Democratic support.
Billions in new war funding face resistance from House fiscal hawks, who said any defense money in another budget bill must be offset rather than added to the deficit.
Johnson is already struggling to line up support for a 3rd reconciliation bill this summer, with both the party's right flank and centrists split over what it should include and how to pay for it.