Lawmakers grill Mattis over cap-busting military supplemental request

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ran into a buzz saw on Capitol Hill Wednesday in the form of skeptical Democrats, who were incredulous that the Trump administration was asking for $30 billion in supplemental DoD funds for this year, with no consideration how the request would likely trigger mandatory spending limits that could actually reduce money for the Pentagon.

“Did you consult with OMB before this supplemental request was made to Congress?” asked ranking member Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who pointed out that if Congress approved a DoD request that exceeds budget caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act, the result would be a mandatory reduction in all Pentagon spending.