Partisan Divide Over Pentagon's Missile Production and Funding Plan

House Appropriations Committee Republicans have cut over $2.5bn from the Pentagon's missile procurement budget, including a significant portion of the $1.9bn requested to support bulk purchases, in a move that could set up a fight with other panels in the House and Senate that may side with the Pentagon's plans. The committee redirected the funds to bolster military training, maintenance and operations, as well as Pentagon research and development efforts to field new technology and weapons. The shift in funding came as appropriators squeezed overall Pentagon weapons procurement spending, which is $3bn lower than the Pentagon requested.