McConnell is also on the verge of being replaced in the Senate by a pro-Trump ally
“Political realities will not always allow a party-line budget reconciliation, and if the department’s top priorities aren’t built into annual appropriations, we’re actually taking a big risk,” McConnell said.
The Trump administration intends to finance its $1.1 trillion Pentagon budget for fiscal year 2027 with a regular appropriations request and an additional $350 billion through reconciliation, a mechanism that enables the current Republican majority to override any Democratic objections.
Other Republicans have also been skeptical about their ability to pass a third budget reconciliation package this autumn after using their second opportunity with the procedure on a narrowly tailored bill to fund immigration enforcement.
