Overview
- Republicans remain sharply divided over whether to use budget reconciliation, a process that lets a bill pass the Senate with a simple majority, to send large Pentagon funding to President Trump.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he doubts the votes exist and Senate Budget Chair Ron Johnson said the White House and chamber leaders have not engaged on a plan.
- Proponents led by Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker and Sen. Jim Banks want money to rebuild munitions and equipment used in the Iran war while several senators including Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski have vowed opposition or expressed reservations.
- Passage would still require 50 Senate votes, a House majority, strict reconciliation rules and likely long 'vote-a-rama' sessions that retiring or defeated senators may avoid, making success uncertain given the compressed lame-duck calendar.
- If Republicans fail to act, the Pentagon could face longer delays in restocking weapons and the party could face continued political fallout over the Iran war and complaints about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.