Senate Republicans are warming to using a third budget reconciliation package to replenish the Pentagon's depleted weapons stocks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is attempting to pass a rule, a short-term government funding bill and a budget resolution to unlock reconciliation.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said, "The tale of the tape is going to be what the House can do. Can the House pass it? I don't think that's a done deal. It's not offset, so I think there's going to be some troubled water there."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, "It's pretty clear that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer would like to play shutdown politics. So I don't have any problem with using reconciliation for that. But beyond that, it gets pretty narrow, what I'd be willing to support."
President Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social, "I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES this week on the Budget Resolution, which is an important first step towards getting a Budget Bill." Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought will try to close the deal at the Republican conference Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday to defend the administration's supplemental funding request, including tens of billions of dollars to replenish munitions used in Iran.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said, "Easier said than done." Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said, "I am not a big fan of reconciliation whether it's 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0."
The White House has sent a list of spending anomalies to appropriators, a necessary step for Congress and OMB to advance a short-term continuing resolution, and the move signals the administration expects Congress to rely on a stopgap spending bill to avert a shutdown. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said, "I'd love a clean CR to get us through the election."
Vice President Vance's private appeal to House Republicans last week did little to change the political math, and Johnson faces a difficult challenge as skepticism extends beyond the House: some Senate Republicans want a larger package with more defense funding, while others insist that at least some of the roughly $95 billion in new spending be offset. The House proposal includes about $60 billion to replenish munitions and weapons stocks depleted by U.S. operations against Iran. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said, "We either need to keep appropriations moving, or it's reconciliation 3.0."