Republican lawmakers push back on Defense Secretary Hegseth's $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget request

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is encountering strong resistance from Republican members of Congress as he seeks approval for a $1.5 trillion defense budget for the next fiscal year. The request, which would raise overall spending by more than 40% from the previous year and add $88 billion for costs tied to the Iran war, has sparked intraparty criticism of Hegseth’s leadership and his relationship with lawmakers.

"This could turn into a real standoff with the military caught in the middle," a Trump administration official told Semafor. "The implications: there won’t be money available to pay recruitment bonuses, upgrade or repair military housing, fix ships and aircraft, or restock munitions. The longer this drags out, the more dangerous it becomes, because we’re really depleted after the Iran war."

Republican senators have questioned the feasibility of the request, noting the absence of confirmed civilian leaders for the Army and Navy and expressing frustration with recent personnel actions, including the removal of senior officers. One senator said, "There are a lot of people that are really upset with the war in Iran and how it’s being played out. We feel it’s hurting our chances in the elections in the fall, and it seems rather haphazard."

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said Hegseth’s difficulties stem from weak relationships with Congress, adding that he only received a substantive briefing on the Iran situation last week. Tillis and three other Republican senators have voted against continuing the war, a stance that could block a party-line defense spending bill.

Other GOP members, such as Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), acknowledge the friction but argue that the only realistic path to additional funding is through a budget reconciliation bill after the election. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) warned that Hegseth’s limited outreach to Democrats represents a strategic error.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson said the department has conducted more than 500 briefings on the budget, many bipartisan, and is working closely with the Republican conference to advance the administration’s defense investment. The White House did not comment on the matter.