House appropriators have approved a spending bill that would block plans from defense hawks to give the Pentagon a stronger hand in crafting nuclear weapons budgets.
The Democratic-controlled House passed a $983 billion appropriations package that aims to fund national security at $17 billion below the White House request.
Lead Democrats have proposed a bill to raise statutory budget caps for two years, with $733 billion for defense in FY20 — but it’s likely to spark a fight with the White House.
Key Democrats are laughing off reports that President Trump reversed course on his defense spending plans and now wants a dramatic boost in the military budget next fiscal year.