Late last month, leaks finally revealed the Pentagon’s spending plan for around $152 billion set aside for the agency in the budget reconciliation bill enacted last summer. The big news: The Pentagon plans to spend the entire amount in fiscal 2026. But beneath this headline, differences between the spending plan, congressional guidance, and the Pentagon’s budget request belie the inherent oversight problems associated with budgeting for the Pentagon through reconciliation.

Despite President Donald Trump saying that “we don’t need it [another reconciliation bill] because we got everything in it,” some Republicans lawmakers are still pushing for round two. Rather than repeating this budgetary malpractice, lawmakers should stick to budgeting for the Pentagon through regular appropriations.

Read the full article in Breaking Defense.