The Fiscal 2006 defense authorization bill probably won’t show on the Senate horizon until after President Bush turns over the BRAC commission report. He has until Sept. 23 to get it to Capitol Hill. Thus, there is plenty of time for unhappy Senators to line up votes for an amendment to derail BRAC.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.