Biden’s ‘transformative vision,’ Democrats’ plans unfazed by meltdown in Afghanistan

The chaos in Afghanistan may have changed global headlines, but it has done little to shake Democrats from their course at home. House members return to Capitol Hill on Monday to begin advancing the party’s $3.5 trillion makeover of the American social safety net.

Debates about welcoming tens of thousands of Afghan migrants did nothing to derail Democrats’ hopes of approving an amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. as part of that makeover. Questions about the U.S. retreat have not dimmed party leaders’ plans this fall to erase one of the authorizations for the use of military force that underpinned the global war on terror.

Democrats also show little sign of backing off from a series of bills that increase domestic spending but limit the growth of Pentagon accounts.

Republicans say that will have to change.

“This crisis is going to impact every discussion on appropriations and in the oversight arena,” Sen. Bill Hagerty, Tennessee Republican, told The Washington Times.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled major debates ahead over military funding in a statement after President Biden’s update Friday on the situation in Afghanistan. The Kentucky Republican said the U.S. must arm itself for battles to regain allies’ trust and contain al Qaeda.

“This will require leaders who are honest with the American people about the terrorist threats that remain and about the need to give our military service members and intelligence professionals the resources they need to win,” Mr. McConnell said.

The Pentagon sent a formal request late last week to reprogram $400 million for the Defense Department’s evacuation from Afghanistan.