US lawmakers warn Pentagon budget gridlock threatens Golden Dome missile defense at Farnborough airshow

At the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation expressed alarm over gridlock surrounding the Pentagon budget, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and an Iran war supplemental. Lawmakers warned that a continuing resolution (CR) is likely, delaying major defense priorities. The Trump administration's $1.5 trillion defense request relies heavily on a reconciliation maneuver to bypass filibusters, but Congress has reduced the reconciliation amount from $350 billion to $60 billion, mostly for the Iran war. The Golden Dome missile defense program, seeking $17.5 billion with only $400 million in the baseline budget, is particularly at risk. Republican senators Kennedy and Fischer expressed doubt about funding Golden Dome through reconciliation, while Democrat Shaheen warned against setting a dangerous precedent. Analysts suggest alternative funding avenues may exist.