President Biden's administration has laid out a $1.5 trillion defense budget request that officials argue finally aligns military capacity, capability, and readiness without forcing painful trade-offs. But the proposal remains just that—a request—unless Congress can overcome its entrenched budget dysfunction and deliver the funding needed to protect the nation.
Lawmakers' primary constitutional duty is to provide for the common defense, yet last year's record-long government shutdown underscored how partisan gridlock undermines that mission. While some modest reforms have emerged, such as the 2025 budget reconciliation that injected $150 billion in mandatory defense spending and the 2027 request's expectation of another $350 billion infusion, these piecemeal steps have not solved the core problem.
The House and Senate have flirted with solutions like the Shutdown Fairness Act, which ensures federal workers get paid during lapses, and the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, which would automatically trigger two-week funding stopgaps and ban taxpayer-funded travel when appropriations stall. A Senate measure to suspend lawmakers' pay during a shutdown would not take effect until the next Congress, leaving a gap in accountability.
To force real change, former Pentagon comptroller Elaine McCusker, now at the American Enterprise Institute, proposes three complementary incentives. First, Congress should tie its own pay to timely appropriations: a 10 percent cut for each week after the fiscal year begins until budgets pass. Second, term limits should be performance-based—lawmakers who miss budget deadlines in three of six years would be barred from reelection. Third, all non-appropriations business should halt after October 1 until annual funding is enacted, not just travel.
These measures, McCusker argues, would make failure toxic and involve every member, not just appropriators. They could save billions lost annually under continuing resolutions, which hamper Pentagon planning and procurement.
Beyond these incentives, Congress must build on last year's budget reconciliation by granting the Pentagon requested reforms: updated reprogramming thresholds, consolidated budget line items, and multi-year procurement authorities. A comprehensive overhaul of appropriations and oversight would replace outdated reporting requirements with a digitized, real-time contracting system that gives lawmakers visibility while giving the military flexibility for its acquisition transformation.
The stakes are nothing less than America's military competitiveness and global standing. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, delivering a functional budget process would be a gift to taxpayers and a demonstration of democratic resilience. McCusker warns that without fixing these gaps, the promise of the Declaration of Independence—prosperity underpinned by security—remains out of reach.
With midterm elections looming, lawmakers have a narrow window to prove they can meet their most fundamental obligation. As security concerns mount around America 250 celebrations, the need for a reliable defense budget has never been clearer. Congress must act before the next fiscal year begins on October 1.
