A growing chorus of House Republicans is warning President Trump that they’re ready to block additional Pentagon funding unless the administration gets tougher on Russia, The Hill reports.
Behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the administration is pushing Republicans on Capitol Hill to approve at least $350 billion in new military spending as part of a partisan reconciliation package in the postelection lame-duck session.
But several of Ukraine’s GOP allies are furious with Trump’s latest foreign policy moves, chief among them a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel to America in an effort to curb rising fuel costs.
That agreement, combined with reports that the U.S. has restricted Ukraine’s use of strategic satellite systems, has set the stage for a pitched internal fight in the lame-duck session, pitting Kyiv’s staunchest Republican allies — who want the Russian sanctions restored and the satellite limits removed — against the administration as it races to secure the boost in Pentagon funds.
Fueling that clash is legislation, sponsored by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and signed by Trump just last month, which was designed to tighten sanctions on Russia and put additional pressure on Moscow to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. Trump’s move to waive those sanctions instead has boosted Putin’s ability to fund the war, frustrating the bill’s supporters in both parties.
Threats have followed.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) warned this week that no part of Trump’s legislative agenda will pass through Congress in the lame-duck session unless Trump takes steps to punish the Russian war machine, rather than feeding it. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told The Wall Street Journal that there will be “consequences” if the administration doesn’t take steps to restore the satellite technologies that Ukraine says have been restricted.
“Agencies won’t get funding if they’re not doing their jobs,” Fitzpatrick said.
And other Republicans on Capitol Hill say those warnings have teeth, not only because of the anger Trump’s decisions have stirred, but also because many Republicans won’t be back in Congress next year — either due to retirement or defeat — which will liberate them to vote against the president without fear of a political backlash.
“There’s going to be enough pressure from the Hill that the admin recognizes that they need to back off, to some degree, if they actually want to get something done,” a House GOP aide said. “There are enough members who are either not returning, or who are going to — after the elections who [have] lost — who are going to feel, maybe, unshackled from their responsibility to be in lock step with the president.”
Hegseth’s office declined to comment.
The Pentagon chief for months has pushed Congress to authorize Trump’s record $1.5 trillion defense budget request, dubbing it a “one-time generational investment” paramount to achieving Trump’s national security priorities.
And the Defense secretary said this past week the Pentagon will forcefully push for the $350 billion reconciliation package, which remains stalled on Capitol Hill over differences on how to fund it.
“We’re running fast immediately with the committees to ensure that that reconciliation bill, at a minimum of $350 [billion], potentially more, ultimately fills up what this department needs in order for the president to ensure that we reestablish deterrence and rebuild the military around the world,” Hegseth said Wednesday at an Army conference in Washington, D.C., noting the Pentagon is working with the White House to make it happen “regardless” of the midterm results.
The package includes funds for several of Trump’s priorities, including $17 billion for the Golden Dome homeland missile defense system, drones and $47 billion for expanded munitions production.
Of the $113 billion designated to boost the defense industrial base, more than $48 billion is for critical minerals. About $103 billion is set for low-cost autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and counterunmanned systems. Some $14 billion would go toward modernization, sustainment and production of F-35 fighter jets, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, the next generation of the Navy’s fighter plane and Lockheed Martin KC-130J transport aircraft.
The Pentagon is also asking for $36 billion for a “Warrior Ethos” category that would include investments in housing and facilities for service members.
