Pentagon Considers Sacrificing Traditional Weapons for Drones If Reconciliation Funding Fails

WASHINGTON — If Congress does not approve $350 billion in funding through the reconciliation process, the Pentagon will consider cutting expensive traditional weapon systems to protect its drone programs, the department’s top technologist warned Friday.

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, who also serves as the Pentagon’s CTO, told attendees at a Hudson Institute think tank event that the department is prepared to prioritize purchases of low-cost, high-tech autonomous systems if reconciliation funding does not materialize.

“If we’re forced into that position, we just make other trade-offs, like against exquisite weapons and systems: How much of those are we willing to sacrifice in place of low-cost autonomous weapons?” Michael said. “It’s just like balancing any budget and any portfolio.”

The $350 billion package includes “a big chunk for autonomous systems, whether it be Saronic-like systems, mine-detection systems, drones, so on,” he said. “We just won’t be able to buy as much or move as fast” on what he has termed the “AI arsenal.”

The White House’s fiscal 2027 budget request consists of two components: $1.15 trillion in base discretionary funding and $350 billion in reconciliation. The decision to route many key modernization efforts, including munitions and drones, into the reconciliation portion has raised concerns among lawmakers that the Pentagon may face difficult funding decisions if reconciliation fails.

The uncertainty intensified June 9 when Republican Appropriators Senators Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell expressed doubt about the Senate’s ability to pass a defense reconciliation agreement. President Donald Trump responded sharply, criticizing GOP leaders onTruth Social and calling on Republicans to “IMMEDIATELY advance and pass the forthcoming $350 Billion Reconciliation Bill.”

Michael acknowledged Congress’s constitutional role in appropriations and emphasized his willingness to engage with lawmakers.

“Congress does appropriations, that’s what they do. We receive them, and we do the best we can,” Michael said. “We’re willing to meet any Congressman or senator to talk about it. I think the logic is impeccable, but we’re in a midterm election year, so weird things happen.”

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