Mac Thornberry cuts projected defense plan, but it's still higher than Trump's

The House Armed Services chairman on Monday unveiled a $631.6 billion national defense authorization plan and $65 billion overseas war spending plan for fiscal year 2018, a number lower than the $640 billion in base funding he had pushed for, yet still enough to buy more troops and weapons than what President Trump requested in May.

The lower figure appears to be part of a developing budget deal being crafted by House leadership, according to staff sources. Other components of the 2018 defense budget were still coming together this week, including hearings scheduled Monday for House defense appropriators and Senate Armed Services.