The House Armed Services Committee advanced its $150 billion portion of Republicans’ megabill on Tuesday with the support of several Democrats, even as most lambasted it as a “blank check” for a Pentagon in chaos and a defense chief who can’t be trusted.
The 35-21 committee vote came after Republicans thwarted more than 20 Democrat amendments aimed at gutting key funding provisions and highlighting complaints about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership.
Five Democrats sided with Republicans on the final vote to increase defense spending: Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, Don Davis of North Carolina, George Whitesides of California and Eugene Vindman of Virginia. But most, if not all, Democrats are expected to oppose the broader Republican measure of tax cuts and reductions to domestic programs, such as Medicaid.
Democrats immediately dove into Hegseth’s now infamous decision to share sensitive military details on a Signal chat. Top Armed Services Democrat Adam Smith introduced an amendment that would have restricted 75 percent of the new defense funding until the Pentagon develops a plan to prevent the sharing of classified information outside of approved systems.
“They have not even begun to prove that there’s a chance in hell that they will spend this money intelligently,” said Smith. His amendment failed in a 26-29 party-line vote.
Another amendment from Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) would have prevented any of the new Pentagon money from being spent until Hegseth steps down as Defense secretary. Her amendment was voted down 24-31, with Democrats Davis and Golden opposing it.
Democrats also highlighted other controversies surrounding Hegseth. Rep. Sara Jacobs of California put forward an amendment that would have blocked funding for a Pentagon makeup studio, following a report that he had ordered a room retrofitted to use before television appearances. Hegseth has denied the report. The measure was defeated in a 26-29 partisan vote.
