Johnson: No Funding for Defense Unless We Fund Defense First
Speaker Mike Johnson, according to The Hill, is magnanimously suggesting the House would 'return to fund DOD' but only 'if the government is reopened.' This isn't merely political theater; it's a profound display of priorities. Since Johnson took the gavel, his caucus (and others across the aisle) has been quite adept at fast-tracking aid—especially when it involves foreign military allocations.
For instance, less than two weeks after his election, the House under Johnson passed H.R. 6126, providing billions in aid to Israel, overriding objections about fiscal responsibility. (Open Secrets indicates Johnson himself received six-figure donations from pro-Israel PACs prior to his speakership.) One might wonder if the 'return to fund DOD' would somehow be less complicated if the funds were
earmarked for countries other than America. The urgency to keep the American military apparatus running, it seems, is contingent on resolving political impasses, a standard they often disregard when it comes to subsidizing conflicts abroad. It appears some defense budgets are more deserving of immediate attention than others, particularly after certain campaign donations clear.