Senate passes $100 billion in defense funds along party lines, waits on House

The Senate early on Feb. 21 voted 52-48 to pass a budget resolution that sets a blueprint for passing Trump administration priorities via the reconciliation process, to include spending $100 billion on defense over four years. 

“This budget resolution directs other Senate committees to find spending cuts to fully pay for the much-needed funding for border security and the U.S. military,” Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement. 

The vote was largely along party lines, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined all Democrats in voting against the measure. 

Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump endorsed the House GOP’s competing budget resolution that supports a one-bill process for reconciliation over the Senate’s two-step approach that would start with a defense-border security-energy bill before taking on a second measure focused on tax and spending cuts. 

“I hope the House can pass one big bill that meets President Trump’s priorities. But this approach provides money that we needed yesterday to continue the momentum on securing our border, enforcing our immigration laws, and rebuilding our military. Time is of the essence,” Graham said. 

A version of this story was first published by Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily.