Today I took a difficult vote in the House Armed Services Committee that is worthy of further explanation.

As my constituents and colleagues know, I am, in both word and deed, a steadfast and passionate supporter of our men and women in uniform and a protector of our national defense. However, I voted NO today on funding the Department of Defense with an additional $150 billion as requested by President Trump and the Republican party. Here is why:  

First, the entire reconciliation budget being proposed by the Republicans, of which this is only one part, will reduce neither the debt nor the deficit—issues critical to the financial health of our nation and a core responsibility of Congress. It will actually increase both. You cannot subtract through addition. 

Second, the additional $150 billion requested for the DoD comes at the direct expense of non-defense programs: Medicare, Social Security, education and research, healthcare, food security, safety and more. I will not vote for a budget that further funds the chaotic and incapable leadership at the DoD while simultaneously actively harming Americans in other areas. 

Third, the DoD has no clear, transparent plan for this additional money and no apparent mechanism to account for how they would spend it. Nor are they able to reconcile the need for this additional funding concurrent with ongoing efforts by DOGE to cut government spending. Are we cutting programs and people within the DoD? Adding to them? Both? At the same time? How? When? The legislation as written is effectively a blank check, a slush fund with no real checks or balances or mechanisms for oversight. It is, by definition, an opportunity for waste, fraud and abuse. 

Fourth and finally, under no circumstances can I vote to give the DoD an additional $150 billion while Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense. He is reckless, incompetent and unrepentant. The nation is in danger and our national security at risk under his management of the Pentagon, and he cannot be trusted with our financial resources. More importantly, he cannot be trusted with our most precious resource—our men and women in uniform. He must go.  

Throughout the budget reconciliation meeting today in the House Armed Services Committee, my fellow Democrats and I offered numerous amendments for consideration—ranging from DoD childcare programs, financial audits for the Pentagon, and training on handling classified information. I introduced an amendment to block the additional $150 billion from being spent until Secretary Hegseth is gone. In response to our amendments, Republican Chair Mike Rogers opined that they were "overbroad and may have unintended consequences." 

I feel the same way about the budget request for an additional $150 billion for a Department of Defense in disarray. The ask is overbroad and voting in favor of it will almost certainly have unintended consequences. 

It is for all these reasons that I voted NO on this aspect of the reconciliation bill. 

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Click here to read my amendment