Overview

• Sen. McConnell and Sen. Wicker advocate for a $55 billion increase in defense spending for 2025.
• Fiscal conservatives, led by Sen. Rand Paul, argue for strict caps on defense and nondefense spending.
• Democrats demand parity increases in nondefense spending alongside any defense budget hike.
• Wicker's '21st Century Peace through Strength' plan faces scrutiny for its high costs and strategic assumptions.
• The Senate will debate the National Defense Authorization Act next month, highlighting internal GOP conflicts.