What to know about Trump’s defense budget proposal

Defense &National Security

Defense &National Security

What to know about Trump’s defense budget proposal 

President Trump released his budget request for fiscal 2027 on Friday morning, including a whopping $1.5 trillion ask for the Pentagon. 

Alton Dunham/US Navy via AP

This year’s defense budget request is a $441 billion increase from the $1 trillion approved by Congress last year.

The request includes $1.1 trillion in “base discretionary” spending and $350 billion for “critical Administration priorities,” including expanding the defense industrial base and munitions access. The second piece would be passed through budget reconciliation, meaning it would rely entirely on GOP support.

To offset some of the increase in military spending, the White House is proposing a $73 billion reduction in nondefense spending in its budget request.

This request is separate from the Pentagon’s $200 billion supplemental budget request to fund the U.S.’s ongoing military operations against Iran. The defense budget would help replenish weapons stockpiles that have been rapidly depleted in the Middle East.

The White House says its budget would “robustly fund” the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, which draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome.

The project has an estimated cost of $185 billion, up from Trump’s original $125 billion price tag. Congress has already approved $25 billion in funding for this defense initiative. 

Another request is $65.8 billion for shipbuilding, including initial investments in a new “Golden Fleet” that will include 18 new battle force ships and 16 nonbattle vessels. 

The White House budget also proposes raising the salaries of service members based on their military rank – t0 include a 7 percent wage increase for military personnel with a rank of E-5 and below.

Another $605 million would go toward the National Guard troops based in Washington, D.C., and an additional $216 million to deploy guard troops to other U.S. cities. 

Around 2,865 guard members were stationed in D.C. at the end of March after the president deployed troops to the city last August as part of his controversial “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative.

Read the full report at thehill.com.

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The Center for Strategic and International Studies will discuss “How the war in Iran is impacting global energy infrastructure,” Monday at 9 a.m.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a talk on “Does Korea soft power work?” at 11 a.m. on Monday.

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