Republicans on pins and needles over 'looming defense spending train wreck'

On Wednesday, it was revealed that the Pentagon is mere months away from running out of money for President Donald Trump’s war against Iran. According to Punchbowl News, this looming deadline has congressional Republicans “anxious” over the lack of a plan to move forward.

Over the past three months, the Defense Department has been conducting operations in Iran using its annual operations and maintenance budget, which wasn’t crafted with extra money for additional large-scale missions like a war. With the conflict in the Middle East showing little sign of ending once and for all, Pentagon officials are warning that funding for the war could run out as soon as July, resulting in cutbacks in vital training and other necessities.

But before Congress can consider a budget extension, the Trump administration needs to submit a funding request detailing its financial needs. No such request has come, however, and congressional patience is waning.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a supplemental here soon, and I’m sure that the [Defense Department] obviously needs it and they’re working on it, so I’m anxious to get it — hopefully, like, any day now,” said Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA).

The lack of a funding request isn’t the only issue. Not only is there a wide gap between what Republicans and Democrats are willing to allow, but Republicans themselves have been unable to reach an agreement.

“I don’t have a deal between the administration and the legislative leadership of both chambers,” complained House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK). “I don’t have a deal between House and Senate Republicans, and I don’t have a congressional budget resolution.”

GOP leaders are warning, however, that they may not be able to pass another reconciliation package, which would represent a large portion of the Pentagon’s budgetary expectations. A key obstacle, says Republicans, has been a lack of clarity on funding priorities.

“There’s important stuff in it,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) about the reconciliation request. “Helping us understand our role here on the Appropriations Committee and how this maps forward is important.”

The war on Iran isn’t the only Trump policy that has depleted the Pentagon’s coffers. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Army is facing as much as a $6 billion shortfall due to the deployment of the National Guard in Washington D.C. and at the border. And as the unpopular war drags on and the “looming defense spending train wreck” approaches, lawmakers are losing their patience.

“We have to start with getting that number from the Pentagon and it needs to be here now,” declared Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

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