Chris Coons Slams Trump Administration Over Delayed Budget: 'Unusual' To Hold This Hearing 'Without A Budget'

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During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing before the congressional recess, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) spoke about President Trump's budget requests.

Transcript

00:00With that, let me turn to Senator Coons.

00:02Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the witnesses here today.

00:06This is the first defense appropriations subcommittee hearing, fiscal year 2026.

00:11It is very unusual to hold a budget hearing without a budget.

00:15The President's annual budget request is required by law.

00:19Understandably, it typically lags in the first year of any new administration.

00:23But the Department of Defense, I'm told, is not likely to submit its detailed budget materials until next month,

00:28which will make this one of the most delayed budgets ever.

00:32Meanwhile, our troops continue to operate under a full-year continuing resolution for the very first time in history.

00:39That legislation also cut billions of dollars in defense spending for the first time in recent memory.

00:45I should note the Senate was ready to end fiscal year 2025 in December, ready to enact, I'm sorry,

00:52fiscal year 2025 appropriations in December.

00:55The Speaker refused, and the incoming administration did not object to a continuing resolution and its impact on DOD,

01:02which we warned about.

01:03So my message to my colleagues and the Department is this.

01:06We need to stop making budget history.

01:09I firmly believe the Chairman and I can craft a reasonable consensus defense appropriation bill

01:15with the help of our subcommittee members to provide what our troops need and deserve.

01:19Chairman McConnell and I see eye-to-eye about the challenges we face from Russia, China, DPRK, and Iran,

01:26on the importance of supporting and engaging with our allies around the world,

01:30on the need to strengthen innovation, invest in the defense base, and improve munitions production.

01:36I also firmly believe that Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray can reach an agreement

01:40to fund the entire government in a responsible way,

01:43if others will put aside fringe ideas about unlimited presidential power and radical budget cuts.

01:49We have not yet really begun on our fill-year budget process, but time is running out.

01:55We need accurate information from the Department about its needs without OMB standing in your way.

02:00And we need a Department willing to state publicly that continuing resolutions are harmful and unacceptable.

02:06We need a commitment from the Executive Branch to stop attacking our role and core functions,

02:12and a commitment from our colleagues to defend Congress's power of the purse.

02:16If we don't all step up to do these things, I fear we risk making more history,

02:21for which we will not be judged well.

02:23I look forward to doing my part.

02:25Now to today's hearing on the Guard and Reserves.

02:27I'm a strong proponent of the Guard and Reserves.

02:29My own Delawareans serving across our state have done excellent work and service.

02:33It requires an extra level of commitment to keep one's civilian life and career going

02:38and to be ready and willing to drop all of it at any moment for your nation.

02:42For our part, Congress and this subcommittee must ensure each of the components testifying here today

02:47are trained, equipped, and ready to answer that call.

02:50This subcommittee has to ensure you are ready for a demanding conflict,

02:54especially in the Indo-Pacific, at the same time tending to domestic needs.

02:58We know the southwest border deployments are taking more time and money,

03:02and I believe risk eating into readiness and training.

03:06I'm concerned our nation has crossed a red line by asking our military to serve effectively

03:10as law enforcement personnel domestically, something I will ask about during this hearing.

03:16Hurricane and wildfire season is also upon us,

03:18and I look forward to hearing from each of the witnesses about how you're balancing the demands,

03:22particularly the National Guard.

03:23I am concerned about the service's readiness and the one-two punch of cuts to your O&M accounts

03:29to pay for operations abroad and at the border, items normally covered in a supplemental,

03:34and the civilian hiring freeze and deferred resignation program.

03:38I understand your military technicians have been exempted from the hiring freeze,

03:42but OPM's requirement to personally approve every new civilian is creating significant hiring backlogs.

03:49I look forward to hearing how you're handling these.

03:50Last, about the state partnership program.

03:53As you know, General, one of my favorites.

03:55I think it is, dollar for dollar, one of the most effective ways we engage with the world.

04:00In closing, our country badly needs the Guard and Reserves to be fully equipped,

04:04fully trained, and part of the total force,

04:06and I look forward to doing my part to support you in that mission.

04:09I thank each of the witnesses for appearing before us,

04:13and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your partnership.

04:15I look forward to this hearing.

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