Republican Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska said Sunday that bolstering the Pentagon's budget should take precedence over enacting President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend for American adults, citing the ongoing conflict with Iran and the need to support troops and replenish munitions.
"First thing, I think we need to see the proposal, but the priority, in my opinion right now, should be funding our troops and replenishing our munitions before we do anything," Flood told host Chris Stirewalt on NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday."
Trump unveiled the dividend plan on Wednesday at the GOP's midterm convention in Dallas, promising to send $5,000 to every adult citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. With roughly 270 million adults in the U.S., the proposal carries a hefty price tag, and several GOP lawmakers have already voiced concerns about its inflationary impact.
Former Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) went so far as to label the idea a "socialist vote-buying scheme" on Thursday. Flood, however, took a more measured approach, likening the dividend to the tax cuts Republicans passed last year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
"If that also gets the economy to where we need it to go and increases our growth, our GDP, then let's look at it. I think the priority needs to be the military," Flood said, referring to the potential economic benefits of the dividend.
The Trump administration earlier this summer asked Congress for an additional $67.1 billion in defense funding, including $17.3 billion for operational costs and $21 billion for munitions. Since that request, the Iran war has dragged into its seventh month, further straining the Pentagon's inventory of missile interceptors.
Flood, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, stressed that the military's needs are immediate and cannot be deferred. His comments come as escalating U.S.-Iran strikes in the Strait of Hormuz continue to draw attention to defense readiness.
The Nebraska Republican's stance highlights a growing divide within the GOP over how to balance Trump's populist promises with fiscal and security realities. While some lawmakers worry about the cost of the dividend, Flood argues that defense spending is non-negotiable, especially given the ongoing concerns about military leadership and readiness raised by former officials like Leon Panetta.
Trump has previously floated similar ideas, including tariff rebate checks, and his administration redirected funds from OBBBA to provide service members with a $1,776 dividend last holiday season. But the $5,000 proposal faces an uphill battle in Congress, where fiscal hawks and defense advocates are already jockeying for influence.
As the debate unfolds, Flood's message is clear: the military comes first. "We need to ensure our troops have what they need to defend the nation," he said, adding that any dividend plan must be evaluated against that priority.
