President Donald Trump released his fiscal year 2027 budget request on Friday, seeking a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending amid ongoing wars with Iran and operations in Venezuela. The proposal includes a 42% to 44% increase from the previous year and calls for 10% cuts to non-defense spending. White House officials described the plan as essential for restoring military readiness in a dangerous global environment.
The White House budget request allocates $1.1 trillion to the Department of Defense and $350 billion for critical munitions, with additional funds for salary raises across military ranks. Junior enlisted personnel would receive a 7% increase, mid-level service members from E-6 to O-3 a 6% raise, and senior officers 5%. Officials stated these boosts aim to improve retention and recruiting, while investments target shipbuilding—adding 18 battle force ships and 16 non-battle force ships—and a new “Golden Dome” missile defense system to counter long-range and hypersonic threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. The plan also emphasizes stockpiling 60 critical minerals, including 15 rare earth elements vital for defense and AI chips. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted efforts like tariffs and a $1 million “gold card” residency program have fallen short of balancing the $2 trillion federal deficit, now approaching $39 trillion in debt. President Trump underscored military priorities during a Wednesday speech to religious leaders, stating, “We’re fighting wars. It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare—all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.” The budget proposes $73 billion in domestic cuts, targeting what it calls “woke, weaponized, and wasteful programs” in climate, housing, health care, and more, including cancellations from Biden-era infrastructure funds. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) told The Daily Wire that passage before October 1 faces hurdles, as Democrats oppose it, potentially requiring Republicans to end the filibuster or use reconciliation—complicated by the Byrd Rule with their 53 Senate seats. Supporters like Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House counterpart Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) praised the funding amid threats since World War II, while House Budget Democrat Brendan Boyle called it “America Last.” Senate Appropriations Democrat Patty Murray deemed it “morally bankrupt.”
