Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., kicked off criticism Tuesday of President Trump’s first defense budget by calling it “dead on arrival” in Congress, but he was soon joined by key Republican lawmakers in the House.
Three subcommittee chairman on the House Armed Services Committee said the president’s proposed $575 billion Defense Department budget — a total of $603 billion in total baseline defense spending — will not cover his promises of an historic military buildup.
“This budget request will not be enough to do what he has said is needed to improve military capabilities and readiness,” said Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, the chairman of the Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee. “After years of underfunding and failed assumptions by the Obama Administration, these increases aren’t enough to begin the process to reverse the damage that has been done to our military.”
Turner along with Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said they are supporting the proposal by McCain and Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, the Armed Services committee chairman, for $640 billion in total baseline defense spending for 2018.
McCain and Thornberry have been criticizing Trump’s defense budget for months, saying it is only a 3 percent increase over the defense spending projects of the Obama administration.
The armed services committees will play a leading role in crafting defense policy and ultimately spending in the coming months. Subcommittee chairman could help push for bigger increases in spending on specific areas as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to be completed this summer.
“The proposed $603 billion budget for the Department of Defense falls short of what is required to re-build our military, to modernize our worn-out equipment, and to support the force we need to deter conflict,” said Wittman, who is chairman of the seapower and projection forces subcomittee. “I believe that $640 billion is the proper level of funding needed to ensure our military can respond to threats and keep our nation safe.”
Wilson, who is chairman of the readiness subcommittee, said the Trump budget “does not provide for sufficient resources to train and equip our soldiers — especially as we face more threats to American families than ever before.”
He also opposed the administration’s “dramatic” cuts to the State Department budget, which he said will weaken the U.S. ability to fight terrorism.
The proposed cuts to diplomacy and foreign aid have sparked opposition on both sides of the political aisle in Congress.
