Defense News reports that “many US lawmakers believe the Pentagon needs more annual funding, but a consensus has yet to form on whether Congress should do anything about it.”  

“The White House last week submitted a $534.3 billion base budget request that would breach defense spending caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act by nearly $25 billion. Lawmakers are expected for the second consecutive year to shift money to block proposed cost-cutting moves, but immediate attention on Capitol Hill went to the caps.”  

“‘I hope that we will do the right thing,’ said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who also heads the panel’s defense subcommittee.”