US News Metro Long Island Politics

Sports NFL MLB Olympics NBA NHL College Football College Basketball WNBA

Business Personal Finance

Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater

Lifestyle Weird But True Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel

Health Wellness Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition

Science Space Environment Wildlife Archaeology

Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers

Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips

Switch between CA and NY editions here.

Why Trump’s huge $1.5T defense budget is worth every penny

If he has to choose between guns and butter, President Donald Trump has made it clear he wants the guns.

This is the right choice for our national security, and reflects, as well, a correct assessment of what should be the federal government’s priority — not funding social services, but providing for the common defense. 

Trump’s new budget proposes $1.5 trillion in defense spending in fiscal year 2027, a staggering 40% increase over 2026. 

At the same time, it outlines a 10% cut in so-called domestic discretionary programs (a category that excludes entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security). 

Progressives consider this tantamount to a crime against humanity. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the budget “rotten to the core.”

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said its vision is “bleak and unacceptable.”

Why the Artemis II mission is exciting everyone so much

Gulf states’ Iran battle scars push them closer to Trump — and Israel

What Jimmy Kimmel gets wrong about ‘plumbers’ like Markwayne Mullin

Her colleague from Oregon, Jeff Merkley, deemed the document “an out-of-touch plea for more money for guns and bombs, and less for the things people need.”

Well, people do need a military to protect us from enemies who want to kill Americans and end US geopolitical pre-eminence, bringing all manner of negative consequences for our economy and safety. 

We are not exactly living in a time of peace and stability.

The United States is embroiled in a war in the Middle East that has rocked global energy markets, while Russia has repeatedly invaded a neighboring country to its west, and China could be on the cusp of precipitating the greatest major-power conflict since World War II. 

This is not a time — if one ever existed — when the fate of the country depends on robust federal funding for community development block grants.

Nobody owns Donald Trump — including his Israel-hating ex-allies

Trump intuits as much.

“The United States can’t take care of day care,” he said last week.

“That has to be up to a state. We’re fighting wars.

“Medicaid, Medicare — they can do it on a state basis. We have to take care of one thing: military protection.” 

Fighting and deterring wars should indeed be the prime responsibility of the federal government, rather than sending federal dollars sluicing throughout the nation to fund priorities large and small, worthy and utterly ridiculous. 

In characteristic fashion, The New York Times noted of Trump’s budget that some of “the most severe cuts would reduce or eliminate funding that benefits minority groups and their communities,” and also remarked that the administration seeks “to scrap money designed to reduce racial disparities in health and those supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

The mock headline writes itself: “Trump Seeks World-Class Military — Minorities and LGBTQ+ Community Hardest Hit.”

There is no doubt that the scale of Trump budget, which would be the biggest single-year increase in defense spending since the Korean War, is equal to the international challenge that we face.

Much depends, though, on what specifically the budget funds, and how effectively the money is eventually spent. 

In broad gauge, the priorities are the right ones, reflecting a new age of high-tech warfare and our shortfalls in shipbuilding. 

The Pentagon is requesting $11.36 billion for Air Force missile procurement in 2027, an enormous increase from $3.7 billion in 2026.

The missile budget is projected to keep growing: In 2029, it would be $16 billion, an 8-fold increase from 2021. 

Space Force would get a 77% increase. 

As for the Navy, it wants roughly $65 billion for building ships, more than doubling the $27.2 billion in 2026. 

In terms of bang for the buck, the administration has begun to fund more nimble, tech-driven defense firms, while it pushes the traditional big players like Boeing and Lockheed to become faster and more efficient. 

As a practical matter, the president is unlikely to get all the defense spending that he wants from Congress — which, when confronted with a choice between guns and better, always chooses both. 

But Trump is right to go big, to focus on the federal spending that could win or lose a war, and to determine our fate as a great power. 

Department of Defense

Cindy Adams America may be the greatest in space travel -- but the average American can barely afford milk

America may be the greatest in space travel -- but the average American can barely afford milk

Andrea Peyser Mad Mamdani's NY: Homeless couple allowed to drink and have sex in middle of the sidewalk

Mad Mamdani's NY: Homeless couple allowed to drink and have sex in middle of the sidewalk

Rikki Schlott Women have been 'looksmaxxing' for decades, Gen Z men are just catching up — and realizing the pressures

Women have been 'looksmaxxing' for decades, Gen Z men are just catching up — and realizing the pressures

Front Cover Back Cover

Trending Now on NYPost.com

This story has been shared 27,160 times. 27,160 Billionaire's dream wedding in tatters as judge makes bombshell ruling on Penthouse Pet: 'Nightmare'

Billionaire's dream wedding in tatters as judge makes bombshell ruling on Penthouse Pet: 'Nightmare'

This story has been shared 26,492 times. 26,492 New Nancy Guthrie ransom notes sent to TMZ claim to know her location as Savannah makes 'Today' show return

New Nancy Guthrie ransom notes sent to TMZ claim to know her location as Savannah makes 'Today' show return

This story has been shared 21,408 times. 21,408 American woman missing in Bahamas after going overboard ID'd as mom living her 'best life'

American woman missing in Bahamas after going overboard ID'd as mom living her 'best life'

Howard Stern's 'bizarre rules for staff' revealed in wrongful termination lawsuit

Stream It Or Skip It: 'Sins Of Kujo' On Netflix, About A Lawyer Who Successfully Defends The Scum Of The Earth, But Has A Moral Code

Billionaire's dream wedding in tatters as judge makes bombshell ruling on Penthouse Pet: 'Nightmare'

Sections & Features US News Metro World News Sports Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion & Beauty Shopping Lifestyle Real Estate Media Tech Science Health Travel Astrology Video Photos Alexa Covers Horoscopes Sports Odds Podcasts Crosswords & Games Columnists Classifieds

Post Sports+ Subscribe Articles Manage

Newsletters & Feeds Email Newsletters RSS Feeds NY Post Official Store Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription Delivery Help

NY Post Official Store

Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription

Help/Support About New York Post Editorial Standards New York Post Awards & Recognition Customer Service Apps Help Community Guidelines Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program

New York Post Awards & Recognition

Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program

Letters to the Editor

Vulnerability Disclosure Program

Apps iPhone App iPad App Android Phone Android Tablet

Advertise Media Kit Contact

© New York Post