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Senators and Air Force officials clash over FY26 request, warn reconciliation split risks programs
Summary
Senate subcommittee members and Air Force and Space Force leaders told the Appropriations subcommittee the president's FY26 request leaves critical modernization and readiness needs underfunded and that shifting major procurements into reconciliation risks long‑term production stability.
Chairman McConnell opened the subcommittee hearing by saying the president's FY26 defense request “falls well short of meeting the requirements imposed by today's threat landscape” and warned that splitting major procurement funding between the base budget and a reconciliation bill risks a “shell game” for long‑term investments.
The hearing focused on the Department of the Air Force's fiscal priorities for FY26 and whether the requested topline is sufficient to sustain modernization and readiness. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Mink told the committee the department is “at an inflection point” and that China remains the department's pacing threat; he said the Air Force must balance generating readiness today with investments that deter adversaries in the future.
Ranking members and other senators repeatedly pressed service leaders about specific shortfalls in the FY26 base request. Senators noted…
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