
Top Senate defense appropriator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday the Trump administration’s defense budget outline, which factors in planned reconciliation spending to achieve a $1 trillion topline, “fails” to meet the required level of investment. McConnell criticized the decision to include anticipated reconciliation funds as a “budgetary sleight of hand.” “American politicians have criticized partners who used special funds to mask shortcomings in annual defense spending. Well, we should be careful not to mistake our budget reconciliation for long-term commitment,…