Slash the Pentagon Act

Bill Number: S. 4799
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Last Updated: 2026-07-06T20:58:53Z

AI-Generated Summary

This legislation aims to establish a strict upper limit on the total amount authorized for the national defense budget in fiscal year 2027.

Sets a cap of no more than $750,000,000,000 on amounts authorized to be appropriated for the national defense budget in fiscal year 2027.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to achieve any necessary funding reductions without cutting allocations for the Defense Health Program or military personnel accounts.
Applies notwithstanding any other provision of law.

Introduces a new, specific dollar cap on national defense authorizations for fiscal year 2027, which overrides broader or higher authorization levels that might otherwise apply under current statutes.
Creates targeted protections for certain defense accounts, altering the typical flexibility the Department of Defense has in managing budget reductions.

Government agencies: Limits the Department of Defense's overall funding flexibility, potentially requiring adjustments in non-protected areas such as procurement, research, or operations.
Citizens: May influence federal spending priorities and tax allocations by redirecting resources away from defense toward other areas.
International relations: Could affect U.S. military commitments, alliances, or global presence if reduced funding impacts readiness or overseas activities.

Department of Defense and its components.
Military service members and their families (due to protected personnel accounts).
Congress, particularly the Armed Services committees responsible for oversight.
Defense contractors and related industries.
Taxpayers, as the cap influences overall federal budget decisions.

Raises questions about congressional authority over appropriations under the Constitution's spending clause, as it imposes a binding limit on executive branch defense planning.
Politically, the bill signals a push for reduced defense spending, which could influence debates on national security priorities and budget negotiations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.