Republicans are expressing concern that an approach by Doug Hegseth, who is reportedly not engaging with Democratic lawmakers on President Donald Trump's proposed Pentagon budget increase, could lead to the initiative's failure. Senators like Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) have stated that Hegseth needs to "engage" with all members of the Senate, not just Republicans.
A GOP member of the Armed Services Committee, speaking anonymously, noted that the case for the budget is being made to Republicans, which is akin to "preaching to the choir," and that a briefing should be provided to all 100 senators. This exclusion worries Republicans who largely support the budget increase but fear it could fail without Democratic backing in the Senate.
Despite these concerns, Hegseth and other Trump administration officials are reportedly exploring a special process known as reconciliation, which would allow Republicans to pass certain funding measures without Democratic support. However, even with reconciliation, the majority of the defense budget would still require Democratic cooperation, which has been jeopardized by their vow to boycott the funding bills.
Republicans have urged the White House to change course, not only to salvage the bills but also as a matter of good faith. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) confirmed he discussed the issue with defense officials and disagreed with their exclusion of the opposing party, emphasizing the need for Democrats to be "brought up to speed" while addressing concerns about potential leaks.