Record defense budget proposed by the White House. $1.5 trillion for the “Golden Dome” system and munitions investment. Cuts to health and social programs
The White House is proposing a roughly $1.5 trillion defense budget in fiscal year 2027, a proposal that takes military spending to the highest level in modern history amid the ongoing war with Iran, CNN notes.
The project, presented on Friday, foresees a more than 40% increase in military spending compared to the previous year.
The document calls for strengthening ammunition stocks and expanding the US naval fleet, as well as starting construction of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system proposed by President Donald Trump. Significant salary increases of between 5% and 7% are also provided for all military personnel to support recruitment and retention.
Of the $445 billion the administration wants to add to the defense budget, the White House is proposing that $350 billion be passed through a bill being prepared by Republicans, using a procedure that requires only a simple majority in the Senate, meaning no support from Democrats would be needed.
Additional funds for the nuclear arsenal
The historic level of defense spending comes amid the ongoing war with Iran and indicates little interest from the White House to redirect attention and resources to other priorities, despite repeated assurances from Donald Trump that he intends to de-escalate the Middle East conflict in the coming weeks.
Budget proposals for other agencies also reflect the administration's interest in strengthening the country's defense systems.
For example, the Department of Energy plans to increase funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration by more than $3.5 billion to develop new nuclear warheads, upgrade existing ones and create technologies for future US naval systems.
The annual White House budget is essentially an administration's wish list that is rarely passed in full by Congress. The Legislature retains control over public spending and has frequently ignored entire portions of this plan in the past.
Massive cuts to 'woke' programs
The budget proposal instead cuts non-military spending by 10 percent, a $73 billion cut that would mostly affect housing, social services, health and other domestic programs that the administration has criticized as “woke,” a term mentioned 34 times in the 92-page document.
Among the programs that would be eliminated are about $4 billion in energy assistance for low-income households, as well as a $775 million community services program aimed at reducing poverty and supporting economic independence.
The proposal for the Department of Energy also includes cutting or redirecting some funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law passed under former President Joe Biden. The document calls for canceling $15 billion and reallocating more than $4.5 billion, as well as eliminating more than $1 billion for climate and clean energy research.
The budget also provides for the halving of funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the elimination of some environmental programs.
Other Trump priorities, including increased privatization of airport security
The plan includes cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both part of the Department of Homeland Security.
In the case of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, non-disaster grant programs are targeted, including those for migrants and extremism prevention initiatives.
The document also provides for the start of the privatization of some activities of the Transport Security Administration, by expanding the use of private personnel in airports.
The budget also proposes a $5 billion cut in funding for the National Institutes of Health and the elimination of some institutes within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Also planned are $1.4 billion in cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the elimination of $4.2 billion in subsidies for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
