BUDGET FIGHT BREWING: Despite urgent pleas from the Pentagon for full funding of the military before the end of the year, an internecine battle among Senate Republicans is threatening to delay any increase in Pentagon funds until next month, and possibly even later in the year.

At issue is the agreement by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to pass an omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government, including the Department of Defense, in the lame-duck session of Congress before the Christmas break.