US President Donald Trump approved a record $1,000 billion defense budget despite efforts to cut federal spending.
Trump Announces Record $1 Trillion US Defense Budget Amid Public Spending Cuts
US President Donald Trump has just revealed that his administration has approved a historic defense budget of nearly 1 trillion USD, despite ongoing efforts to reduce public spending. This move underscores the administration’s focus on military strength amid growing global security threats.
During a White House meeting on April 7 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated, “We are very focused on saving, but the military is an area that requires investment, must be strong, because there are too many bad forces out there. No one has ever seen anything like it.”
It remains unclear whether the defense budget increase will solely benefit the Pentagon or if it will extend to other agencies involved in national security.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated the importance of military investment, stating: “We are committed to using every penny of taxpayers’ money effectively, focusing on destructive power and combat readiness.”
In a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth wrote: “It’s coming. The defense budget will hit the trillion-dollar mark for the first time.”
This new budget comes after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin under former President Joe Biden proposed a $50 billion increase in the 2026 defense budget. However, in February this year, the Pentagon recommended an 8% cut in military spending while prioritizing investments in emerging technologies such as drones, submarines, and US-Mexico border security operations, alongside deterrence measures aimed at China.
Currently, the US Department of Defense budget stands at $895.2 billion. Trump’s recent announcement signals a massive boost in military spending, which has sparked debates amid the ongoing federal spending cuts spearheaded by the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. In line with these policies, approximately 280,000 federal employees have been laid off in recent months.
