Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s $1.5 trillion defense budget, which he has touted as a much-needed “generational investment,” looks increasingly unlikely to come to fruition following Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The department’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request was broken into two: a base budget of $1.15 trillion and a reconciliation bill for $350 billion, which could be passed with only Republican support. The Trump administration is also seeking an $87 billion supplemental package, announced in June, that would include $67 billion to cover the costs of the war in Iran.

Recommended Stories

Updated estimated cost of Iran war is $37.5 billion: Hegseth

Department of War’s DOGE efforts don’t reduce expected spending, reallocate funding

Pentagon seeking $50B of cuts to Biden programs to promote Trump priorities