reconciliation

Why the Pentagon is in a hurry to spend $152 billion

The department has already issued guidance to its program offices on how to spend the money before the deadline hits.

Pentagon races to spend $152B reconciliation pot — or face cuts

Pentagon program offices are under pressure, juggling the urgency of getting reconciliation funding under contract by Oct. 1 while making sure those contracts include fair pricing and adequate oversight, one defense official told Breaking Defense.

Pentagon may ‘sacrifice’ traditional weapons to buy more drones if reconciliation fails: CTO

"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," Emil Michael said.

‘Not an option’: Top Senate defense appropriator says third reconciliation bill unlikely

Two top appropriators — Sens. Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins — expressed doubt that a third reconciliation bill with defense funding will pass.

Price tag for Iran war ticks up to $29B, not including base damage

"We're not making an estimate for MILCON [military construction] at this time. We don't know what our future posture is going to be," said Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst.

Munitions at risk? Inside the Pentagon’s $350B gamble

Congress has teed up a second reconciliation bill with immigration enforcement money, but future reconciliation funds for defense remain nebulous.

Reconciliation ‘floodgates’ about to open after slow start for contracts, Hegseth says

“Why do we suddenly have a two part budget where this committee and the Congress generally has oversight and input, to a process where a corner of the budget is essentially a slush fund?” asked Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, during a SASC hearing.

Pentagon officials broadly detail $55 billion drone plan under DAWG

The bulk of funding comes in the form of reconciliation, a bet the department also made for a proposed hike to its Office of Strategic Capital loan program.

Defense reconciliation bill could come after ICE, border patrol effort: Graham

“Defense hawks want defense money in the reconciliation bill. I’m trying to keep it as small and focused as possible,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee.

‘Paradigm-shifting’ $1.5T defense budget to enable multiyear contracts: OMB director

OMB Director Russell Vought defended the use of reconciliation to pay for $350 billion in defense, saying the move would ensure that funds “aren’t held hostage” during traditional the appropriations process.

Trump’s $1.5T defense budget to weather harsh scrutiny on Capitol Hill 

Operations in Iran, midterm elections and GOP intraparty politics could all complicate the defense budget's path to President Donald Trump's desk.

Trump proposes $1.5 trillion defense budget, banking on $350 billion from reconciliation

The fiscal 2027 request, to be formally revealed Friday, marks the first time that base budget defense spending has hit the $1 trillion mark, with reconciliation funds on top of that.

White House to deliver FY27 budget request on April 3: OMB

President Donald Trump has indicated plans to request $1.5 trillion in defense funding in FY27, but it is unclear whether that sum will stem purely from the base budget.

GOP moving forward with new reconciliation bill, with money for defense: Graham

“The purpose of the second reconciliation bill is to make sure there is adequate funding to secure our homeland and to support our men and women in the military who are fighting so bravely," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham.