Senate Republicans have expressed significant reservations about the likelihood of passing another defense reconciliation bill, which would allow the Trump administration to bypass traditional budget processes for substantial defense spending. This sentiment was underscored during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, where leaders from the Air and Space Force discussed the 2027 budget proposal.
Senate Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, highlighted that key defense initiatives, such as the F-35 modernization program, are absent from the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion baseline budget request. Instead, the White House is advocating for a $350 billion appropriation via reconciliation, a legislative mechanism that permits “mandatory” government spending with only a simple majority required for passage.
“I would just suggest that it is taking a terrible risk and creates instability when you’re counting on a third reconciliation bill for the bulk of the money rather than doing base funding through the defense appropriations bill,” Collins remarked.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, chair of the defense subcommittee, concurred, stating, “I think it’s safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill. So, it’s really not an option.” Collins echoed this sentiment.
The last defense spending package, totaling over $150 billion, was enacted on July 4 under the inaugural reconciliation bill, dubbed Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Recently, the House Republicans advanced “Reconciliation 2.0,” which allocates $70 billion to immigration-enforcement agencies but excludes defense funding.
The administration continues to prioritize funding for initiatives like the Golden Dome radar system, shipbuilding, and munitions through reconciliation. The House Armed Services Committee finalized its markup of the annual defense policy bill last week, which did not substantially alter the baseline to accommodate these reconciliation priorities. However, top staffers expressed confidence that additional funding would be secured.
The White House budget office projects a gradual increase in baseline defense budgets from $1.15 trillion to $1.36 trillion over the next decade. Yet, it has not disclosed plans for further reconciliation funding post-2027.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., voiced her concerns about the Defense Department’s dependence on reconciliation for critical priorities. During the hearing, when Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., inquired about the necessity of a supplemental bill should reconciliation fail, Air Force Secretary Meink emphasized the importance of a fully-funded budget request. He noted that the Pentagon and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget are exploring alternative options.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., predicted that the Air Force and Space Force should anticipate another continuing resolution, stating, “I think you should prepare for it.” He added, “Again, I hope I’m wrong.” Meink warned that such a scenario would adversely impact the readiness of the Air and Space Force, affecting investments in unmanned vehicle technologies, weapons systems readiness, and munitions procurement. The hearing concluded with a palpable sense of uncertainty regarding the future of defense funding and the potential implications for military readiness.