Senate Set to Vote on Defense Budget as Progressives Call for Cuts
As the Senate gears up for a key procedural vote on the annual defense budget that the House passed earlier this week, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have voiced their dissent, advocating for a reduction in the Pentagon’s budget to reallocate funds towards vital domestic needs.
Following the House’s approval of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2025 (H.R. 5009), CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) expressed concern over the escalating budget for the Pentagon, which is close to reaching one trillion dollars annually. She highlighted the inefficiencies within the department, noting, “It’s alarming for every American taxpayer that such a significant budget is being allocated to an agency plagued by inefficiency and corruption.”
Jayapal pointed out that the Pentagon has not passed an audit in seven years, a unique failure among federal agencies. Despite this, it continues to receive substantial increases in funding each year, which Jayapal argues does not serve the interests of American citizens.
According to a report by Common Dreams last month, over half of the Pentagon’s budget is now funneled to military contractors known for charging the government excessive prices, which has played a part in the Department of Defense’s chronic inability to account for trillions of dollars of taxpayer money.
The $883.7 billion bill, pushed through by the House, aims to further boost the Pentagon’s budget. It includes over $500 million in military aid to Israel and funding for two $357 million nuclear-powered attack submarines—even though the Pentagon had requested only one. Additionally, the legislation proposes cutting more than $621 million from President Joe Biden’s requests for climate initiatives.
Jayapal also criticized the bill for including measures that deny gender-affirming healthcare to the children of military personnel, marking the first federal action against LGBTQ individuals since policies like ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act in the 1990s. She stated, “Such dangerous bigotry is unacceptable and should not be enshrined in our laws.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) acknowledged the mixed contents of the bill, noting it contains both positive aspects championed by Democrats and negative elements they oppose, as well as omissions of important measures. He has moved forward with cloture to set up the initial procedural vote on the NDAA, expected early next week, which will require 60 votes to proceed.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), known for his criticism of excessive military spending, expressed his intent to vote against the budget in a recent speech. He lamented the government’s financial priorities, stating, “While ordinary American families struggle, we’re told there are not enough resources to support housing, childcare, education, or healthcare. Yet, there seems to always be enough to satisfy the demands of the military-industrial complex and their lobbyists.”
Jayapal acknowledged that the funding bill does provide significant pay raises for servicemembers and invests in housing, healthcare, childcare, and other support for military families. “Progressives will always support improving the livelihood of our servicemembers and veterans,” she affirmed. “However, overall, this bill steers our country and our priorities in the wrong direction.”
She argued that by reducing military expenditures, the government could better address the needs of all Americans, not just those in the military, without compromising national security or the wages of servicemembers. Jayapal concluded, “It is high time to stop enriching military contractors through corporate monopolies and redirect those funds towards domestic necessities.”
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