Skip to main content
0:55

Mitch McConnell

13:50 - 14:45

“Core pieces of the President's defense agenda, like multiyear procurement contracts for critical munitions, Half of the F-35 program, Golden Dome, and DROME dominance initiatives are all requested as a one-off reconciliation spending, not a full year base appropriations.”
Speaker
Mitch McConnell
Community
Alaska News
Captured at
June 9, 2026

From the transcript

At the same time, the structure of the request for the Department of Defense would put consistent funding for key priorities at unnecessary risk. Core pieces of the President's defense agenda, like multiyear procurement contracts for critical munitions, Half of the F-35 program, Golden Dome, and DROME dominance initiatives are all requested as a one-off reconciliation spending, not a full year base appropriations. This is especially mystifying for multi-year procurement contracts. I mean, the need to budget for them annually is right there in the name. But it's more than just a contradiction in terms.

Related Coverage

The Air Force wants $7 billion for fighter recapitalization at Elmendorf — but Alaska's military investments are riding on a partisan bill senators don't think will pass

The Air Force requested $7 billion for fighter jets at Elmendorf-Richardson in its 2027 budget, but half the F-35 funding and other Alaska-critical spending is routed through a partisan bill that Republican and Democratic senators say will not pass.

Cover image for article: The Air Force wants $7 billion for fighter recapitalization at Elmendorf — but Alaska's military investments are riding on a partisan bill senators don't think will pass

The Air Force wants a $338.8 billion budget — a 34% jump that includes a 130% Space Force boost that flows to Clear

Air Force seeks $338.8 billion for fiscal 2027, a 34 percent increase with Space Force funding up 130 percent. • Clear Space Force Station in interior Alaska could receive part of the $71.1 billion Space Force request. • Funding also targets facility upgrades at JBER and Eielson Air Force Base, addressing a $50 billion maintenance backlog.

Cover image for article: The Air Force wants a $338.8 billion budget — a 34% jump that includes a 130% Space Force boost that flows to Clear