The House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday advanced a $150 billion defense package that proposes a significant increase to missile defense, shipbuilding, space operations and advanced technology.
The panel advanced the legislation 35-21 mostly on a party line vote. Most Democrats opposed the legislation because the GOP’s sweeping tax-cut and spending framework would all but certainly require cuts to critical domestic programs such as Medicaid and nutrition assistance. Ultimately, Republicans’ package, which they’re moving to pass through a process known as budget reconciliation, doesn’t require Democrats’ support.
Democrats also sought to draw attention to the upheaval at the Pentagon under ...