Wilsbach declines to commit to congressional ‘intent’ for reconciliation money

WASHINGTON — Air Force Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach today declined to pledge to follow lawmakers’ guidance on how to spend billions of dollars of reconciliation funds, despite similar commitments from other top Defense Department officials. 

Facing the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination hearing today, Wilsbach was asked by Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker the same question Wicker had asked a parade of Pentagon nominees before him: Would Wilsbach commit to uphold “congressional intent” on the reconciliation package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, which furnished the Pentagon with an extra $150 billion?

“I will carry out the funding in accordance with the law, and I will strive to do my best with the intent of Congress as well,” Wilsbach replied.

“So that’s not an explicit answer, is it?” said a visibly displeased Wicker. “No,” Wilsbach then conceded, “but I definitely will follow the law, senator.”

Wilsbach’s response was a departure from others who have appeared before the committee and offered unqualified affirmatives. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth eventually did the same at a hearing in June, though after some back and forth with Wicker.

Like other federal agencies, the Defense Department is typically bound to congressional intent for government spending by appropriations spelled out in annual, fiscal year budgets. But the One Big Beautiful Bill puts defense dollars in uncharted territory. Not all funding in the reconciliation bill is tied to specific programs, giving the Pentagon more flexibility to move funds around despite the wishes of congressional leadership. 

Attempting to get ahead of the issue, Wicker and his counterpart in the House outlined their vision for how the reconciliation money should be spent in a July letter to the Pentagon, with Wicker separately asking DoD officials to uphold lawmakers’ guidance in hearings. Lawmakers directed the Pentagon to respond with its own implementation plan for the $150 billion pot in August, but nothing so far has been produced.

Today when asked if DoD planned to abide by Congress’ wishes, a Pentagon spokesperson said they “don’t have anything” to offer and referred questions to the White House.

Wilsbach’s exchange with Wicker marked the only somewhat contentious exchange in an otherwise subdued hearing, where the general mainly fielded questions about his priorities, approach to readiness challenges and at times parochial interests of lawmakers on the committee.

The hearing also dipped into Hegseth’s push for what he describes as merit-driven rewards in the DoD, when Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Banks asked Wilsbach whether he “support[s] Secretary Hegseth’s push to only select and promote airmen based on their merit and achievement.” Wilsbach responded in the affirmative. 

In a scrum with reporters following his hearing, Wilsbach also left the fate of a wide-ranging overhaul of his service called “reoptimization” up in the air. Asked whether he wanted to continue those efforts that have stalled under Trump officials, Wilsbach said that while he has had “private conversations” on the topic, the decision is up to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. He declined to answer Breaking Defense’s follow-up questions.

Based on Wilsbach’s warm reception on the Hill, it seems the general may have a smooth path to confirmation, at least according to Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer. 

Discussing the possibility of shifting more Air Force assets into his home state of North Dakota, Cramer told Wilsbach, “We’ll talk more about that not if, but when you’re confirmed. I look forward to helping that happen.”