Pentagon Spending Quagmire Threatens to Ensnare US Lawmakers

May 26, 2026, 8:55 AM UTC

US lawmakers are struggling to find a way out of a looming spending quagmire as they start writing the annual defense authorization and spending bills for the fiscal year starting Oct.1.

From the Pentagon’s topline budget request to money for new hardware, Congress faces mounting challenges as it looks to fund the military’s main priorities, raising questions about how much it can get done with the window of time closing and the US engaged in an unpredictable conflict with Iran.

Here are the defense battles Congress faces this year.

Topline Funding

The Trump administration made the unprecedented move to request ...

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