Pentagon budget talks stall

The Trump administration's $1.5 trillion defense budget request is stuck in Congress with fewer than 20 legislative days left in the year. Lawmakers are deadlocked on major defense policy bills, leaving the Pentagon with limited options to replace weapons spent during the eight-month war with Iran. Next week's election is likely to empower Democrats who are eager to confront Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The impasse stems from a breakdown in the traditional bipartisan cooperation that has supported defense funding for decades. Republicans argue Democrats are stalling to please voters angry at President Donald Trump. Democrats counter that they are checking an administration that started a war without congressional approval. Most lawmakers who discussed the situation cited Hegseth's adversarial behavior as the primary strain on relationships.

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut) described the current dynamic as abnormal. "The people who have been around for a few days have seen what normal looks like," Courtney said. "We're not living in normal." Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez defended the secretary's approach, stating that Hegseth is always willing to engage with lawmakers who bring concerns in good faith. Valdez noted that lawmakers understand the critical nature of the pending bills for military readiness.

The National Defense Authorization Act, which has passed for 65 consecutive years, failed to advance in the Senate and barely passed the House. More Republicans voted against the NDAA in the House than Democrats voted for it. The two chambers are negotiating a final version with votes expected later this fall. The annual defense budget faces even greater risk of failure. The $1.5 trillion plan includes funding for advanced weaponry and billions for Trump's personal military projects, including a Golden Dome missile defense shield and a fleet of battleships named after him.

Hegseth called the 40% increase in spending an urgent and necessary injection of resources. He also urged Congress to approve an additional $67 billion to cover the costs of the Iran war. Senate Democrats blocked the request in protest of the conflict. The administration split the budget into two buckets: $1.15 trillion requiring some Democratic support and $350 billion intended to pass with GOP votes alone. Republicans have not agreed on a strategy to pass the party-line share.

U.S. Central Command estimated that the Iran conflict had cost more than $47 billion as of mid-October. The Pentagon has delayed trainings and maintenance projects to cover these bills. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) warned that Russia and China are questioning the U.S. ability to replace dwindling ammunition stocks. "You're mad at the president, but you're taking it out on these men and women who are following orders," Rounds said. Sen. Angus King (Maine) criticized the administration for asking Congress to replenish money spent on a war of its own choosing.

The administration has excluded Democrats from several briefings on the $350 billion spending plan, breaking a long-standing practice of sharing national security information equally. Sen. Kevin Cramer (North Dakota) said the Pentagon must inform lawmakers if it expects them to make country-altering decisions. In April, Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee that the biggest adversary was the reckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called Hegseth's tone shockingly unprofessional. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has hosted private breakfasts with lawmakers to build support for the budget.