HALFWAY THERE: Assuming that President Joe Biden signs the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate last night with a veto-proof margin of 83-11, the Pentagon’s hopes for full funding for the remaining nine months of the fiscal year rests with the appropriations half of the $858 billion Congress has promised to deliver to confront China, arm Taiwan, continue military support to Ukraine, and develop cutting-edge technology.

The Senate bought a week’s more time to hammer out a compromise on an omnibus package of 12 spending bills by passing a continuing resolution 71-19, one day after the House took similar action with an eye toward passing the entire federal budget before the Christmas break one week from today.