WASHINGTON — Republicans insist the short-term budget deal brokered this weekend did more than just give them a path to avoid a government shutdown. They think it also gave them a blueprint for defense spending hikes in the future.
Unsurprisingly, Democrats disagree.
The $1.16 trillion spending plan for the remainder of fiscal 2017 — expected to be passed by the House and Senate later this week — includes a $15 billion boost in defense spending for the final five months of the budget year, delivered through temporary war funding lines.
It also appears to go against past Democratic demands that increases in military spending be accompanied by similar non-military budget hikes, to ensure that defense costs aren't overwhelming other domestic priorities.
Past budget deals had followed that plan, matching military and non-military hikes over the spending caps almost dollar for dollar. But the omnibus budget deal steps away from that practice, and Republicans praised it a positive change.
"It is good that the defense needs in this measure do not appear to be tied to any other issue," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said in a statement Monday.
"For too long, some in both parties have attempted to use our military as leverage to pursue other political objectives. Our defense needs should stand on their own merits, and doing so here is an important step on the long path to rebuilding America’s military."
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., offered similar praise, saying the deal protects military might "without corresponding increases in non-defense spending, as Democrats had insisted upon for years."
President Donald Trump repeatedly vowed to do away with trading defense spending hikes for domestic program boosts, saying that military needs to take priority over other programs. White House officials labeled the congressional deal a win for that effort.
"When he signs this legislation, it’s more money for defense, more money for border security, more money for school choice, exactly what he said he would do," Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters Monday. "We're very pleased with the bill."
But Democrats are dismissing the idea the deal represents a philosophical change for Congress.
"The principles remain the same," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. and member of the chamber’s Appropriations Committee. "Our country needs to make sure we invest in the education, health, and well being of the country in order to have a strong military."
"We believe in parity."
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. and the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said there has not been a change in negotiating principles for Democrats. He said Democrats didn’t simply agree to a big military plus-up, but instead evaluated the needs of hundreds of different programs and came to a comfortable compromise.
"There were increases in domestic spending as well as defense spending," he said. "The approach was, what are the priorities and needs?"
Trump has already outlined sizable boosts in defense spending in his fiscal 2018 budget outlines, but getting those approved by Congress will require lawmakers to reach another deal to modify or dump the spending caps.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has already stated his caucus will oppose any efforts to increase military money at the expense of domestic programs, which has been the key spending caps fight since they were approved in 2011.
Still, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said Democrats' parity principle "just got broken" in the budget deal, and he hopes it will set a precedent for 2018 and beyond.
"None of this will be resolved until we get rid of sequestration," he said. "We get rid of sequestration and we're on the right path."
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Joe Gould covers Congress and national security for Defense News. He can be reached at jgould@defensenews.com
Joe Gould was the senior Pentagon reporter for Defense News, covering the intersection of national security policy, politics and the defense industry. He had previously served as Congress reporter.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
