Congressional Republicans Defy Trump on Spending and Defense

Congressional Republicans are increasingly resisting the legislative, budgetary, and defense priorities of Donald Trump. This pushback is driven in part by the president's strategy of endorsing primary challengers against sitting GOP incumbents, which has alienated party members and tightened the legislative margins for Speaker Mike Johnson.

In the Senate, GOP lawmakers refused to fire Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she blocked 1 billion dollars in funding for a new White House ballroom. Senators also pushed back against a proposed anti-weaponization fund—estimated between 1.776 billion and 1.8 billion dollars—intended to compensate the president's allies, including participants in the January 6 events. Senator Thom Tillis sponsored an amendment to redirect those funds toward fraud enforcement, while others, including Senator John Cornyn, opposed the fund entirely.

Defiance has extended to national security and defense. The House Armed Services Committee drafted a National Defense Authorization Act that reduces requested defense spending from 1.5 trillion dollars to 1.15 trillion dollars and blocks funding for a Trump-class battleship. Additionally, Committee Chair Mike Rogers and Senator Roger Wicker criticized the president's decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. In the House, a bipartisan coalition including four Republicans passed a resolution to curtail U.S. military campaigns against Iran, while other GOP members challenged the nomination of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.