BUDGET MYSTERY – Military Testifies BLIND!

Biden’s “skinny budget” leaves military leaders hanging while Congress scrambles to avoid yet another government shutdown fiasco.

At a Glance

• Air Force and Space Force leaders testify today about 2026 budget needs without complete White House funding guidance
• White House released only a “skinny” budget on May 2, with detailed plans not expected until late summer
• Congress faces just 10 weeks of legislative work before potential government shutdown deadline on September 30
• Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers frustrated with White House budget delays
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled for multiple budget testimonies amid the fiscal uncertainty

Military Leaders Left in the Dark as Budget Battle Looms

Air Force and Space Force leaders are heading to Capitol Hill today to discuss their strategic needs for fiscal year 2026, but there’s just one small problem – they don’t have a complete budget framework from the White House. The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET will feature testimony from Troy E. Meink, Gen. David W. Allvin, and Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, but these military leaders are essentially flying blind thanks to the administration’s baffling delay in providing comprehensive budget details.

Watch coverage here.

This bureaucratic mess stems from the White House’s decision to release only a “skinny” budget plan on May 2, with the actual detailed funding proposals not expected until “later in the summer.” Because nothing says efficient government like waiting until the last possible minute to tell your military what resources they might have to defend the nation. Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee are fuming over the administration’s lackadaisical approach to one of its most basic constitutional responsibilities.

Clock Ticking Toward Another Government Shutdown

If you’re experiencing déjà vu, you’re not alone. We’re once again staring down the barrel of a potential partial government shutdown by September 30 – the end of the fiscal year – because apparently, Congress and the White House haven’t learned anything from the last dozen budget crises. With ongoing disputes over the reconciliation budget bill and the White House dragging its feet on detailed budget plans, military leaders are left to testify about needs they can’t fully articulate because they don’t know what’s on the table.

The math is not in anyone’s favor. Lawmakers have a paltry 10 weeks of legislative work scheduled before the fiscal year deadline hits. Ten weeks to resolve fundamental disagreements about national priorities, military readiness, and how to address the spiraling national debt that threatens to consume everything in sight. Meanwhile, our adversaries around the globe are surely watching with amusement as the world’s premier military power can’t even figure out how to fund itself properly.

The Parade of Uncertainty Continues

Today’s hearing with Air Force and Space Force leaders is just one in a series of congressional sessions scheduled to discuss department budgets. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify multiple times on the fiscal 2026 budget request, likely to face tough questions about funding for various global hotspots while working with incomplete information. Veterans Affairs and military construction budgets hang in similar limbo, with leaders expected to justify needs against phantom numbers.

What’s particularly infuriating is that this isn’t a new problem. This is the same dysfunctional budget dance we see year after year, regardless of which party controls the White House or Congress. Our military deserves better than this perpetual uncertainty. Our service members shouldn’t have to wonder if their paychecks will arrive on time because politicians can’t get their act together to perform their most basic function – funding the government in a timely, responsible manner.

Constitutional Duties Abandoned

The framers of our Constitution gave Congress the power of the purse for a reason – to ensure accountability and proper oversight of federal spending. What we’re seeing instead is a broken system where delay tactics and eleventh-hour negotiations have become the norm rather than the exception. The military leaders testifying today deserve to know what resources they’ll have to protect our nation. The American taxpayers deserve to know how their money will be spent. And most importantly, our men and women in uniform deserve the certainty that comes with proper planning and budgeting.

As we approach yet another potential budget crisis, remember that this isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about national security, military readiness, and fulfilling our obligations to those who serve. Perhaps it’s time we hold our elected officials accountable for their constitutional responsibilities rather than accepting this annual cycle of dysfunction as business as usual. Our military deserves better, and frankly, so do we.