FULL COURT PRESS: Days after writing a forceful op-ed, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, took their argument against Trump’s proposed defense budget cuts directly to the president yesterday. “I had a frank and productive conversation about our national security goals with the president. We share a commitment to undoing the damage left behind by President Obama and to rebuilding our military to achieve the National Defense Strategy,” Inhofe said in a statement. The armed services chairmen were also be joined by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis according to The Washington Post, which was first to report the Oval Office meeting.

As we’ve reported, the Pentagon has two proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget plans prepared for President Trump. One for the $700 billion he asked for. And the other for $733 billion, which the Pentagon was counting on before Trump sprung his “nickel plan” on his Cabinet in October, requesting a 5 percent reduction from all federal agencies, including defense.