Trump Urges Senate Republicans to Pass $350 Billion Defense Bill

The facts come first below. My opinion follows in the section marked as opinion.

President Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans on Thursday to pass $350 billion in defense spending in the lame-duck session before Democrats take control of Congress in January, Jewish Insider reported. In a Truth Social post, he said Congress should "IMMEDIATELY" begin working on a $350 billion party-line funding bill. "Our Military must be strong, powerful, and respected," he wrote. "Republicans must deliver for our Warriors. The Democrats never will. The time is NOW."

Jewish Insider said many on Capitol Hill have for months regarded such a bill as infeasible, and that Republicans have only weeks to finalize any reconciliation measure before January.

Several Senate Republicans sounded skeptical of the request, Jewish Insider reported. Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said her support "depends what is in this, whether it's narrowly focused or whether it's broad." Sen. Thom Tillis said the Senate would need to "narrow the scope if you're going to have a path to success." Sen. Todd Young said he "can't wait to see" how the administration expects to pay for the package. Sen. James Lankford said, "We've got to see the number and what the details are."

Sen. Josh Hawley, who has called for an end to the war with Iran, told Jewish Insider that his Missouri constituents made clear in the midterms that they want that war to be over. "I need to look and see what they're proposing. I do have concerns," he said. Sen. Steve Daines said he does not think a reconciliation package is likely, though he argued that increased defense spending is important and that Democrats should receive the same threat briefings Republicans have received.

Other Republicans backed moving ahead. Sen. Mike Rounds said the $350 billion request is realistic "based on the information that's been provided to us," but that "our Democrat colleagues need to have access to that same information," Jewish Insider reported. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said, "I would shoot for [$350 billion]. They're running out of bullets, and that's just a fact." He added, "And whether you support the war or not, nobody wants an Afghanistan, and we really need to pass that recon[ciliation] bill." Sen. Rick Scott said he supports the $350 billion request and thinks it is achievable.

Jewish Insider reported that Democrats are weighing whether a stopgap to keep the government open beyond a Dec. 11 deadline should limit funding for that war. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said, "We're going to work really hard to bring the war to an end and keep the government funded." The Senate has also been moving other legislation in this lame-duck period, including an energy permitting bill Dock Line reported: Senate Votes 73-25 to Begin Debate on Energy Permitting Bill.

Opinion:

A strong military is a real duty of the federal government. That does not mean a social media post is a bill, or that a $350 billion request is money in the bank. If the spending is necessary, Republicans still in the majority should put a real bill on the table, say what is in it, and say how they would pay for it.

The skepticism from Senate Republicans is not automatically unfaithful to the troops. After a midterm defeat, a party that cannot agree on the scope of a spending bill should not pretend that urgency alone is a plan. Lawmakers who want more munitions, and lawmakers who want the war ended, are asking different questions. Both questions deserve a straight answer.

Congress holds the power of the purse. Democrats who will soon hold the majority can use that power, and they will be judged for how they use it. Republicans who have it now will be judged the same way. The country needs a military that can fight if it must, and a government honest enough to say what a bill actually does before it is passed.