Trump Tells the Senate to ‘IMMEDIATELY’ Move a $350 Billion Military Bill Before Democrats Take Over

President Donald Trump on Thursday told Senate Republicans to move “IMMEDIATELY” on a $350 billion military spending bill, urging them to pass it before Democrats take control of Congress in January.

“TODAY I am calling on Senate Leadership to IMMEDIATELY move on the 350 Billion Dollar Reconciliation Bill to give our brave Warriors the DECISIVE ADVANTAGE they deserve. Our Military must be strong, powerful, and respected,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

The $350 billion is part of the administration’s broader $1.5 trillion defense budget request, which includes major investments in weapons production, military technology and the domestic defense industrial base, according to the outlet.

Because it would move through budget reconciliation, the bill could pass the Senate with a simple majority instead of the 60 votes most legislation needs. That makes the lame-duck session Republicans’ last clear shot before they lose the majority on Jan. 3.

A Drained Arsenal

The push comes as the Iran war depletes American weapons stocks. “The munitions expenditure in [Operation Epic Fury] has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply,” the Congressional Research Service reported, the Daily Caller News Foundation noted.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., whose group usually pushes for spending restraint, defended a bigger defense budget when asked about it at a Wednesday press conference. “Asking that on Veteran’s Day is a little interesting,” Harris said. “The fact of the matter is we live in a very dangerous world … we have to fight 21st century wars with 21st century weaponry,” he told the outlet.

The Senate’s Crowded Calendar

Senate Republicans have already pledged to “do everything humanly possible to pass a reconciliation bill before Jan. 3,” according to a resolution adopted at a closed-door meeting Tuesday and obtained by Fox News Digital. The same resolution commits them to “maximize the 54 days we have with congressional majorities” and confirm every approved judicial and executive nominee.

Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has warned that reconciliation could be the hardest piece. “I think we’ve got to keep it realistic to probably have any chance of passing, pretty narrow,” Thune told Fox News Digital.

The Senate also faces 23 judicial nominees, nearly 100 executive branch nominees, the annual defense authorization bill, a permitting reform package and government funding before the year ends, Fox News reported. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the Daily Caller News Foundation said.

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