Sen. Susan Collins on Friday largely sidestepped questions about President Donald Trump’s request to increase military spending next year by roughly 40% as the U.S. continues to bomb Iran with no clear exit strategy.

Instead, Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, detailed her objections to Trump’s proposals to cut discretionary spending. She also criticized the administration’s request for only one DDG-51 destroyer, a naval vessel produced by Bath Iron Works, as “insufficient.”

“The President’s Budget Request is just that, a request,” Collins said in a written statement. “To compensate for years of underfunding, the Administration proposes to increase defense funding significantly and recognizes the annual appropriations process as the best way to provide additional funds.”

On Friday, Trump requested $1.5 trillion in military spending, while proposing $73 billion in cuts to domestic spending on climate, education and housing programs.

The request represents a roughly 40% increase over current spending levels for the military — a fact touted by the administration.

“This amount exceeds even the (President Ronald) Reagan buildup by approaching the historic increases just prior to World War II, a level that recognizes the current global threat environment and restores the readiness and lethality of our forces,” the administration said in its request.

The proposal for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 is nonbinding and will be reviewed by Congress. It comes as Trump is threatening to escalate the bombing campaign in Iran while failing to articulate a clear mission or an offramp to the conflict that is embroiling the Middle East.

It also comes as Democrats are hammering vulnerable Republicans, including Collins, over the war ahead of the midterm elections.

The bombing campaign in Iran has sent gas prices soaring and raised concerns about inflated food prices stemming from increases in fertilizer costs.

In her statement, Collins mostly focused on proposed cuts to discretionary spending, advocating for funding for things like biomedical research, heating assistance for people with low incomes and financial aid for low-income students.

“After careful review, Congress decisively rejected these particular cuts last year,” Collins said. “While the Administration proposes a budget, Congress holds the power of the purse.”

Majority Forward, a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, on Wednesday launched a digital ad targeting Collins for opposing a resolution last month to restrict Trump’s military campaign in Iran. The ad also criticized Collins for casting a key procedural vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which contained about $1 trillion in health care cuts.

Collins ultimately voted against the bill, resulting in a 50-50 tie that was broken by Vice President JD Vance.

Trump has sent about 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, bringing the total to 50,000, as he reportedly considers a ground invasion.

The first six days of the conflict with Iran, which started on Feb. 28, cost about $11.3 billion, The New York Times reported.

Collins said she opposes boots on the ground in Iran and that such a move would require the support of Congress. She said she would support a resolution to end the conflict if Trump sends in troops without approval.

Spokespersons for Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, declined to comment, saying the elected officials were still reviewing the budget request.

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, called Trump’s budget proposal “dangerous and morally bankrupt.”

“Trump has said it himself: he believes we cannot afford child care, Medicaid or Medicare, and that states should handle those responsibilities on their own. But somehow there is always unlimited money for war,” Pingree said in a statement. “Every one of these choices reflects the same set of values: working people are on their own, while polluters, war hawks, billionaires and corporations get everything they want.”

In a Wednesday address to the nation, Trump at times contradicted himself about his goals in Iran. Trump said military objectives could wrap up “very shortly,” while also promising an escalation in the coming weeks.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard,” Trump said. “Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”