New Senate defense appropriations chairman talks nuclear modernization, defense cuts and earmarks March 1 Defense News spoke with Sen. Jon Tester about his priorities as the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subpanel. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) WASHINGTON ― If progressives aim to cut the U.S. Defense Department’s top-line budget or the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad, they’re likely see pushback from a fellow Democrat: the incoming chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subpanel, Sen. Jon Tester. In an interview with Defense News on Monday, the Montana lawmaker said he’s open to targeted, not across-the-board cuts, and he reiterated his support for modernizing intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are partially based at his state’s Malmstrom Air Force Base ― and support for the “incredible deterrent” that ICBMs provide.