Senate Republicans Are Rebuilding America’s Military

As Conflicts Rage Around the World, Senate Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill Delivers Major Investments to Modernize and Upgrade America’s Military

IN AN INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS WORLD, AMERICA’S MILITARY READINESS HAS BEEN SLIPPING AND EVEN FALLING BEHIND OUR ADVERSARIES

“The U.S. Navy is at least 50 ships too small for the world’s threats, and that’s not the worst news. ‘Just about every major shipbuilding program is behind schedule, over budget, or irreparably off track,’ Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker said at a recent hearing for Mr. Trump’s Navy secretary.” (The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Trump Launches 1,000 Ships. Maybe – 3/5/25)

The Air Force’s aircraft fleet size is under 5,000 aircraft, the lowest total in its history. Without action, it could shrink further and fall into a “maintenance and modernization death spiral.” (Air & Space Forces Magazine: At a Historic Low, Air Force Fleet Size Will Keep Shrinking, Top Planner Says – 4/9/24; Defense News: As the US Air Force fleet keeps shrinking, can it still win wars? – 4/23/24)

Last year, only 62% of the Air Force fleet was “able to carry out their missions on an average day,” marking the lowest mission capable rate “in recent memory.” (Defense News: Air Force aircraft readiness plunges to new low, alarming chief – 3/6/25)

The U.S. is at risk of falling behind adversaries in terms of defense production and capacity:
- “China produces two submarines a year for every 1.4 made in the US,” a 43% manufacturing advantage, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo. (Financial Times: US ability to defeat China in Taiwan threatened, top Indo-Pacific commander warns – 5/3/25)

- China “also builds six combatant warships annually compared with the 1.8 manufactured in America,” a 233% manufacturing advantage. (Financial Times: US ability to defeat China in Taiwan threatened, top Indo-Pacific commander warns – 5/3/25)

- “Since 2000, China has built more than twice as many naval vessels as the U.S., according to defense intelligence company Janes.” (The Wall Street Journal: America Let Its Military-Industrial Might Wither. China’s Is Booming – 5/29/25)

- According to General Christopher Cavoli, Russia can produce “250,000 artillery shells per month, which puts it on track to build a stockpile three times greater than the United States and Europe combined.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services: Statement of General Christopher G. Cavoli, United States Army United States European Command – 4/3/25)

REPUBLICANS’ RECONCILIATION BILL ADDRESSES THESE SHORTFALLS AND BEGINS THE PROCESS OF MODERNIZING AMERICA’S ARMED FORCES

“This bill is a landmark down payment toward the modernization of our military and our defense capabilities. It represents a generational upgrade for our national security with historic funding for Golden Dome, American manufacturing, innovative unmanned technology, and new shipbuilding efforts.” – Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

“The inclusion of the $150 billion defense funding boost puts to bed one of the disagreements between the House and Senate when it comes to the budget reconciliation bill.” (The Hill: Republicans unveil proposal for $150B in new Pentagon spending – 4/28/25)

Republicans’ reconciliation bill will ensure America has the premier military force in the world by allocating:
- “$29B for shipbuilding to expand the maritime industrial base, build 13 Battle Force ships, and rapidly grow an unmanned fleet.”
- “$25B for Golden Dome to maintain space superiority, develop space-based missile intercept, and accelerate existing missile defense efforts.”
- “$23B to re-stock crucial munitions, rebuild U.S. supply chains for critical minerals, and expand advanced manufacturing capacity.”
- “$16B to scale production of innovative low-cost and next-gen weapons like drones, counter-drone tech, cheap munitions, and artificial intelligence.”
- “$16B to improve readiness, including through modernization of depots, additional spare parts for aircraft, and expanded naval maintenance.” (Sen. Wicker: SASC Chairman Roger Wicker Releases Defense Reconciliation Bill – 6/3/25)

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