The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved marking up to an $823.3 billion Pentagon topline for fiscal year 2024, with senior lawmakers signaling further interest in potential supplemental spending measures to boost defense dollars above the cap set by the debt ceiling agreement.
The panel on Thursday voted along party lines to agree on topline figures for the full slate of FY ‘24 spending bills, setting an $886 billion figure for total national defense spending.
“We can and we absolutely should have a conversation about how the debt ceiling agreement also limits our investments on defense. And we can and we should talk about how we can address the danger posed by those limits. I’ve heard those concerns loud and clear from leaders across the board, like Vice Chair [Susan] Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. [Lindsey] Graham (R-S.C.), whose expertise and perspective on national security I value deeply. I’m certain this is a conversation that we will continue to have,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said during the markup. “Just as we do every year, we can and we will consider supplemental and emergency appropriations to address key challenges.”
The debt ceiling bill passed earlier in June locked in an $886 billion defense topline, the level requested in the president’s budget for FY ‘24 and a 3.3 percent increase over FY ‘23, and authorizes a one percent increase in FY ‘25 to the defense and non-defense toplines.
Senate leadership has offered a commitment to keep open the possibility for supplemental funding measures to add a defense boost, noting the debt ceiling bill does not block the use of emergency spending measures to address security-related items (Defense Daily, June 2).
Collins, who’s also the top GOP defense appropriator, reiterated she “remains concerned” about the cap on defense “at the inadequate level requested by the president,” and also alluded to the options for supplementals at some point.
“On defense funding, I’ve been voicing concerns for many months, as have many of my colleagues, that the president’s budget request is inadequate and does not fully take into account the effect of inflation,” Collins said on Thursday. “As we move forward, we must secure additional defense funding. I would note, and Chair Murray also made the point, that the proposed 302(b) [toplines] before us today are not the final story for this fiscal year. I hope in the weeks ahead we will be able to reach agreement to ensure that our military and the Department of Homeland Security have the resources they need to keep our country safe.”
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chair of Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, echoed Collins’ remarks on the lack of a defense boost and opportunities to look at ways to potentially increase spending.
“Am I happy with the defense number? No. I think it’s inadequate, quite frankly,” Tester said. “I don’t think this is going to be the last bite at this appropriations apple, myself. I think there are going to be other bites coming down the line.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has reportedly pushed back on talk of supplementals to boost defense, arguing it would be a workaround for the spending caps negotiated for the debt ceiling agreement.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said last week supplemental funding from Congress would be “very helpful” to ensure continued support for Ukraine in light of the debt ceiling agreement’s defense spending caps (Defense Daily, June 14).