Engaged in a costly war, Trump wants to raise military spending to a stratospheric level

Engaged in a costly war with Iran, the White House on Friday unveiled its 2027 budget proposal, asking Congress for a 42 percent increase in already massive U.S. defense spending.

The proposal, announced months before the midterm elections, would raise U.S. military spending to $1.5 trillion next year, according to documents released by the administration.

If approved by Congress, currently narrowly controlled by the president’s Republican Party, it would mark a record in recent U.S. history.

The increase would amount to $445 billion compared with the 2026 defense budget.

It “supports President Donald Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ program,” the White House said.

Cuts to domestic spending

Non-defense spending would fall by 10 percent overall in 2027, the administration said.

Cuts are planned for programs the White House says promote progressive approaches to gender, racial or sexual discrimination and climate change.

The proposal, drafted by budget director Russell Vought, reflects principles outlined in the conservative “Project 2025,” with which he has been closely associated.

Under the plan, the National Institutes of Health would see its budget reduced by $5 billion.

Funding for development aid and humanitarian assistance would also be cut by several billion dollars.

At the same time, the proposal would significantly increase spending tied to Trump’s immigration policy and other security priorities.

The White House is requesting $152 million to reopen the Alcatraz prison.

World’s largest military budget

The United States already has the world’s largest defense budget.

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation reported in 2024 that U.S. military spending exceeded that of the next nine countries combined.

“And now Trump wants us to spend, by ourselves, more than the 34 countries following us,” Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan wrote on X.

The proposal comes after more than a month of military operations against Iran, which could cost up to $2 billion per day, according to U.S. media reports citing briefings with lawmakers.

Midterm pressure

The budget is expected to face a difficult path in Congress ahead of the midterm elections.

Some conservatives have raised concerns about the impact on the U.S. national debt, which exceeds $39 trillion, and a Republican senator has already said he would oppose the plan on constitutional grounds.

“I support the steps the president has taken to defend our national security interests in the Middle East. But we must keep our eyes wide open in light of history and the Constitution,” Sen. John Curtis wrote on X.

“While I support maintaining readiness and replenishing stockpiles, I cannot approve funding new military operations without a formal declaration of war from Congress,” he added.

Democrats, who hope to regain control of Congress in November, also criticized the proposal.

“Americans want health spending, not war spending,” Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives said.