The U.S. Capitol as seen on March 21, 2024. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday released an updated plan for defense spending in a bill from Republicans to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda, slashing money for military operations on the U.S.-Mexico border while increasing funds for defense supply chains.
The latest iteration of the $150 billion measure to modernize America’s military and strengthen national security is part of a sweeping tax cut and spending bill that Republicans hope to pass through both chambers of Congress and send to Trump’s desk by July 4.
The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation in the coming days.
Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the defense portion of the bill is a “crucial down payment” to enhance defense capabilities amid rising global threats from China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries.
The measure includes $29 billion to boost Navy shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base, $25 billion to support Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative, and $9 billion to improve housing, health care, child care and education for service members.
The Senate’s legislation initially called for $3.3 billion to fund the military’s mission at the southwest border, but that amount has been reduced to $1 billion under updated bill language released Wednesday. House Republicans had approved $5 billion for military border support.
Funding for munitions production is going up by $2 billion, from $23 billion to $25 billion, in the updated Senate bill. It includes $5 billion to shore up supply chains for critical minerals essential for the manufacturing of weapons, and $3 billion to support the defense industrial base.
The revised bill also removes all references to classified programs, including in the Air Force and Navy.
Republicans are aiming to pass the legislation over Democratic opposition through a process called reconciliation, which requires a simple majority vote. Wicker noted earlier this month that the defense part of the bill has support from members of both parties.
“I really think maybe 85 senators, if you ask them, ‘Do they want this $150 billion to be enacted?’ They would say yes — Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “We’re united on that, and we’re ready to go, it’s the other parts that will take some massaging.”
Lawmakers ultimately have limited power over how the money will be spent. The funding priorities outlined in the measure are recommendations, and there is worry among Democrats that the Defense Department will not abide by congressional intent.
Wicker over the past few months has been asking nominees and Pentagon officials who come before the Armed Services committee if they would honor Congress’ intent. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that he would.
The Senate’s original bill included a provision that would have withheld money from the Pentagon for failing to tell Congress how it was spending the funds, but the Senate parliamentarian ruled last week that the provision violated budget reconciliation rules.
