Republicans Push Back on Trump Admin's Possible Military Spending Plan [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM EST


The Trump administration's push to raise defense spending, and potentially through a reconciliation bill, is stirring concern among some Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski. The Alaska Republican's communications team referred Newsweek to her Tuesday comments to reporters, stating, “A reconciliation bill is not how we ensure defense spending going forward. That’s what we do in appropriations.”

Why It Matters

Reconciliation is a fast-track budget process that allows the Senate to pass certain spending bills with a simple majority, avoiding the 60-vote threshold that would require several Democrats to join Republicans, given the chamber's balance of power. Earlier this year, lawmakers used reconciliation to approve a one-time defense funding boost of more than $150 billion. The process is used for increases and mandatory spending and revenue changes, not the annual Pentagon budget, which is set through appropriations and the yearly Defense Department funding bills.

Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last year’s reconciliation bill to boost defense spending is “only just the beginning,” noting that defense spending will increase and likely increase further through reconciliation. The U.S. national defense budget totaled more than $890 billion in 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported.

What To Know

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought said over the weekend that the White House is not opposed to considering a second budget reconciliation bill this year to advance defense funding.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-push-back-trump-admin-military-spending-plan-11187529