I kind of remember the demoncrats trying to defund the Vietnam war via the house denying funds. Or was it a later war? A bit fuzzy on that.
Yes, Congress did cut funding for the Vietnam War, which some historians say resulted in the fall of Saigon. I was five, so I don’t know.
From what I can tell, military salaries are indeed appropriated annually in the Defense Budget. So when Congress doesn’t pass an annual budget, which they are legally obligated to do and as the Democrats have failed to do since 2009, Congress must resort to Continuing Resolutions to fund the government.
That’s why we ended up with the infamous Sequester. Democrats wouldn’t propose or pass a budget.