UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump is urging congressional Republicans to launch a massive, single‑shot push that would fuse a $350 billion defense surge with the stalled SAVE America voter‑ID bill into a third budget reconciliation package.
The former president framed the move as a “generational investment” for the military, claiming it would eclipse even Reagan’s defense buildup and unlock the full $1.5 trillion arsenal his supporters say the armed forces desperately need.
Trump’s demand arrived hours after he signed a second reconciliation bill earmarking $70 billion for immigration enforcement, a measure he dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Yet within GOP ranks, enthusiasm is tepid. Lawmakers fear reigniting the reconciliation process would demand flawless party unity at a time when the legislative calendar is rapidly shrinking toward the November midterms.
Many Republicans remain uneasy about sidestepping the traditional appropriations process to funnel billions into defense, and several have openly questioned the wisdom of a $1.5 trillion spend.
Senator John Kennedy warned that the odds of any major legislation clearing Congress before the elections are “a very, very long shot,” describing the political reality as a source of personal frustration.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stopped short of closing the door on another reconciliation bill, but he acknowledged growing skepticism among his colleagues, noting they need a winning issue to rally behind.
During a heated Senate appropriations hearing, both Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed doubt that a third reconciliation vehicle would materialize, especially as a conduit for additional defense dollars.
Collins bluntly called reconciliation “not the best approach” for the task, emphasizing the procedural hurdles that would make approval extremely difficult.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled confidence that his chamber could push a third budget bill through before the August recess, yet several members remain unconvinced.
Representative Nick Langworthy admitted he has not yet heard a policy proposal compelling enough to unite the caucus, though he remains open to discussion.
Former Republican turned independent Kevin Kiley warned that the perpetual cycle of partisan reconciliation bills fuels dysfunction, suggesting the habit of one party seizing power and pushing sweeping spending measures has become counterproductive.
