U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, issued a statement criticizing Senate Democrats for blocking consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. McConnell said this action follows a recent government shutdown, which he attributed to partisan priorities.
“Two weeks ago, when Democrats chose to take the federal government hostage for partisan priorities, I warned that there would be nothing to gain from their shutdown. Today, our colleagues’ refusal even to begin considering the overwhelmingly bipartisan defense appropriations bill is a sobering reminder that there is, however, much to lose,” McConnell stated.
He emphasized the importance of national defense as a constitutional duty and noted current global security challenges. “Providing for the common defense is a solemn Constitutional obligation. It is gravely important every year — no less so in the face of the bipartisan consensus about the growing threats from increasingly aligned adversaries,” he said.
McConnell referenced recent Senate passage of a National Defense Authorization Act that increased defense funding by over $30 billion to address these threats. He argued that without appropriated funds, legislative authorization alone is insufficient. “Last week, the Senate passed a National Defense Authorization Act that raised the defense topline by more than $30 billion to meet these growing threats. However, without appropriated dollars, such an authorization only grows the gap between our rhetoric and our action,” he said.
McConnell concluded by warning about military advances by other countries and called for timely investment in U.S. defense capabilities. “Our adversaries are not standing still. They are growing their military capacities and preparing for the changing realities of modern warfare. The longer we wait to make sizable investments in our own defense, the more difficult it will be to restore deterrence and achieve peace through strength.”
