Republicans push back on Hegseth’s $1.5tn Pentagon budget request

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing resistance from congressional Republicans as he seeks $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon next year.

Interviews with a half-dozen senators and administration officials, Semafor reports, show concerns over his leadership, his relationship with Congress and the ongoing war with Iran.

Hegseth is seeking spending more than 40% higher than last year, plus a separate $88 billion to cover Iran war costs and additional weapons.

A Trump administration official said, “This could turn into a real standoff with the military caught in the middle.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the secretary’s quandary “comes down to relationships, and I don’t think he’s built strong enough relationships.”

Most Republicans see a party-line reconciliation bill as the best route, but Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, “I don’t like reconciliation, period.” Winning 50 of 53 GOP senators would be a major challenge.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson said the department is “in lockstep with the Republican conference in Congress to achieve the President’s historic investment in defense.”

President Donald Trump still backs Hegseth. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.