GOP Lawmakers Push Back Against Military Funding for Trump Projects

WHO:

The Hill - House Republicans are opposing the use of military funds for projects associated with Trump.

WHAT:

Alternet - The Pentagon's investment strategy is now described as allowing the Department of Defense to invest taxpayer money in companies and receive ownership stakes in return, similar to private investment practices.

Alternet - The Pentagon made a deal involving rare-earth-minerals company MP Materials, ensuring a $400 million equity ownership investment and providing a $150 million loan along with other support.

Alternet - The White House budget office issued a legal opinion allowing the Pentagon to spend funds under the Defense Production Act, which the Trump administration claims justifies its control over the funding.

Alternet - The Pentagon's deal with MP Materials includes a $400 million equity ownership investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support.

Alternet - The legal memo, penned by OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta, uses the Defense Production Act and the president’s constitutional powers to justify the Pentagon's control over the funding.

Alternet - A spokesperson for Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) stated that Wicker believes an appropriately scoped equity investment authority is important for restoring a free market for critical minerals.

Alternet - A former Pentagon official cited the Antideficiency Act as a significant hurdle regarding the MP Materials deal, indicating concerns about the legality of the funding approach.

Alternet - Another official from the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital expressed surprise that the current administration found authority under the Defense Production Act to pursue such investments.

Alternet - The Pentagon's deal with MP Materials includes a $400 million equity ownership investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support.

Alternet - A former Pentagon official cited the Antideficiency Act as a significant hurdle regarding the MP Materials deal, indicating concerns about the legality of the funding approach.

Alternet - The Pentagon's deal with MP Materials includes a $400 million equity ownership investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support.

Alternet - The Pentagon's investment strategy is described as similar to how a private investor might buy stock in a business.

Alternet - The Pentagon made a deal involving rare-earth-minerals company MP Materials, ensuring a $400 million equity ownership investment and providing a $150 million loan along with other support.

The Hill - GOP lawmakers are signaling their opposition to a proposal that would allocate military funding for Trump's projects.

WHERE:

The Hill - The discussions are taking place within the U.S. Congress, specifically among House Republicans.

WHY:

Alternet - The Trump administration is seeking to establish U.S. supply chains for critical minerals to reduce reliance on China, citing national security threats as justification for the funding.

The Hill - The opposition stems from concerns about using military funds for non-military purposes, particularly those linked to Trump.

HOW:

Alternet - The legal memo, penned by OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta, uses the Defense Production Act and the president’s constitutional powers to justify the Pentagon's control over the funding.

Alternet - The legal memo from the White House budget office, which was previously unreported, provides insight into how the Trump administration justified the use of taxpayer money for private sector investments.

Alternet - The legal memo, penned by OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta, uses the Defense Production Act and the president’s constitutional powers to justify the Pentagon's control over the funding.

The Hill - Lawmakers are voicing their concerns through formal statements and discussions in Congress regarding the appropriateness of the funding proposal.

(UPDATED September 23, 2026 02:04 UTC)

The Pentagon is now allowed to invest taxpayer money in companies, receiving ownership stakes in return, a move that mirrors private investment practices. Recently, the Pentagon struck a deal with MP Materials, committing $400 million in equity ownership and providing a $150 million loan to bolster U.S. supply chains for critical minerals, a strategy aimed at reducing reliance on China. This initiative is backed by a legal opinion from the White House budget office, which cites the Defense Production Act and the president’s constitutional powers to support the Pentagon's funding control.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 19:58 UTC)

The Pentagon has announced a significant deal with MP Materials, which includes a $400 million equity ownership investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support. A legal memo from OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta justifies this funding through the Defense Production Act and the president’s constitutional powers, while Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker emphasizes the need for an appropriately scoped equity investment authority to restore a free market for critical minerals. However, concerns have been raised about the legality of this funding approach, with a former Pentagon official citing the Antideficiency Act as a major hurdle, and another official expressing surprise that the current administration found the authority to pursue such investments.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 18:59 UTC)

The Pentagon has announced a significant deal with MP Materials, which includes a $400 million equity investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support. In a legal opinion issued by the White House budget office, the Trump administration has justified this funding under the Defense Production Act, aiming to establish U.S. supply chains for critical minerals and reduce reliance on China. However, concerns have been raised regarding the legality of this funding approach, with a former Pentagon official citing the Antideficiency Act as a potential hurdle.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 15:58 UTC)

The Pentagon is now allowing the Department of Defense to invest taxpayer money in companies and gain ownership stakes, mirroring private investment practices. Senator Roger Wicker believes that having an appropriately scoped equity investment authority is crucial for restoring a free market for critical minerals, as the Trump administration aims to establish U.S. supply chains to lessen reliance on China due to national security concerns. However, a former Pentagon official raised issues regarding the legality of this funding approach, citing the Antideficiency Act as a significant hurdle, while another official expressed surprise that the current administration found authority under the Defense Production Act to pursue these investments.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 13:59 UTC)

The Pentagon has announced a significant investment deal with MP Materials, which includes a $400 million equity ownership investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support. This move comes after the White House budget office issued a legal opinion that allows the Pentagon to utilize funds under the Defense Production Act, a decision backed by the Trump administration to strengthen U.S. supply chains for critical minerals and reduce reliance on China. The legal memo, written by OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta, outlines how the Defense Production Act and the president's constitutional powers justify the Pentagon's control over this funding.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 11:56 UTC)

The Pentagon has struck a significant deal with MP Materials, a rare-earth-minerals company, which includes a $400 million equity investment and a $150 million loan, along with additional support. This move is part of Trump’s administration strategy to establish U.S. supply chains for critical minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on China due to national security concerns. To facilitate this funding, the White House budget office issued a legal opinion permitting the Pentagon to allocate funds under the Defense Production Act, which the administration argues justifies its oversight of the financial resources.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 03:58 UTC)

House Republicans are expressing their opposition to a proposal that would allocate military funding for projects associated with Trump. This resistance is rooted in concerns about using military funds for non-military purposes, particularly those linked to the former president. Lawmakers are actively voicing their objections through formal statements and discussions within the U.S. Congress.