The leading Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee recently shared their thoughts on President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after the White House unveiled its government funding proposal for fiscal year 2026.
Senator Roger Wicker expressed his concerns, stating, “President Trump has done well with his peace through strength approach, but it seems his advisor at OMB isn’t on the same page.” He criticized the proposed settlement bill, noting it aimed to significantly reshape Pentagon programs, including initiatives like Golden Dome and support for the border, suggesting instead that it would undermine military capabilities and the service members supporting them.
Trump’s OMB recently put out its “Skinny Budget,” which proposes $163 billion in cuts to non-defense spending, while defense funding appears to have increased by 13%, from $893 billion to $1.01 trillion. This includes $892.6 billion in discretionary spending, along with an additional $119.3 billion in mandatory spending expected to pass in the forthcoming settlement bill.
A senior official discussed how, in the past, Republican leadership had to provide a roughly one-to-one increase in non-defense funds to secure rises in defense budgets. This time, however, it seems the budget presented to Democrats maintains FY25’s discretionary defense spending at $89.26 billion, significantly lowering the defense discretionary budget by about 22.6%, while non-defense discretionary funding is set around $557 billion.
Both the White House and Congressional Republicans are aiming for a reset in defense spending through a budget adjustment tied to a tax cut package.
Wicker, however, remains unconvinced. He argued, “The OMB is essentially asking for an $892.6 billion budget, which will be effectively slashed. This will limit President Trump’s military options and negotiating power.” He added that true growth in military spending is still necessary, despite the settlement proposals.
On social media, OMB Director Las Vault responded to the criticisms, saying, “The president seeks to ramp up defense spending to $1 trillion, a 13% increase aimed at national security. This budget addresses those needs without excessive government spending, ensuring we only need GOP votes for passage.”
In a drive to cut back government-wide spending, all departments have been requested to propose budget reductions, excluding those for veteran services and NASA, as well as the transportation sector.
Though Hegseth hasn’t commented on these defense spending proposals yet, Congress is expected to create a White House framework and launch its budget plan, a process likely to stretch over several months.
Wicker has long pushed for the U.S. defense spending to reach 5% of GDP, a significant increase from its current level of about 3.5%. He and other Mississippi Senators are looking to bypass OMB guidelines in favor of achieving “real growth” in defense budgeting.
This report includes contributions from Fox Business’s Edward Lawrence and Eric Revell.
