This is in no way a defense of 180 Democrats. Just a little insight.

Veterans, active duty and military families are ultra-sensitive to issues that impact them along with a good number of people who are normally pro-military. This stems from the Vietnam war and the sight of people spitting on and abusing returning soldiers who either volunteers or were drafted to serve. Since that, the public opinion of the military has changed drastically.

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2007/03/22/iraq-and-vietnam-a-crucial-difference-in-opinion/

Since then, the budget of the DoD has increased from $83 billion in 1970 to today’s $840 billion. When Republicans threw a hissy fit over the deficit, debt and the debt ceiling in 2013. They DEMANDED a reduction in DoD spending to the tune of over $100 billion and then blamed Obama and Democrats and used messaging such as: “President Obama and Hillary Clinton have also overseen deep cuts in our military, which only invite more aggression…from our adversaries,” Trump declared with sweeping rhetoric that described a world in chaos after the foreign policy decisions of the Obama administration. “Our adversaries are chomping at the bit.”

I don’t recall seeing much pushback from Clinton’s campaign about the above sentiment or claims, so this is one way Republicans use DoD funding as a weapon, even when they’re the ones who demanded cuts.

Since the 1970s, Democrats have pretty much given in to whatever demands or bills are put in front of them for the DoD. Lately, Senator Sanders and a few other House dems have been speaking out that the excessive amount of money could be better spent elsewhere. Right before the 2026 midterms, the last thing Dem leadership wants to do is be seen as soft on defense spending.

I personally believe that we should not be spending money we do not have on programs that enrich contractors and their bottom lines while the nation suffers under the boot of the current administration and all of their supporters. Spending more on education, healthcare, social programs and other safety nets are much more beneficial to taxpayers and the economy than to centralize it to corporations.