By Aaron Navarro
Updated on: April 3, 2026 / 7:32 PM EDT / CBS News
Washington — President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request asks Congress for $1.5 trillion in defense spending, an increase of about 42%, while proposing a roughly 10% cut to nondefense discretionary spending — about $73 billion.
The White House published a 92-page budget request and accompanying summaries outlining administration priorities. The proposed defense increase comes as the U.S. spends heavily related to the war in Iran and as the White House prepares to seek supplemental appropriations to cover conflict costs. The president’s budget is a starting point for congressional negotiations, and final spending levels can change substantially in Congress.
A White House summary frames the boost as exceeding even the Reagan-era buildup and nearing historic pre-World War II increases, saying it reflects the current global threat environment and aims to restore force readiness and lethality. The proposal would fund a 5% to 7% pay raise for troops, allocate $65.8 billion for new ships and to resupply critical munitions depleted during the Iran conflict, and support development of a “Golden Dome,” a space-based missile defense sensor and interceptor system.
To offset the defense increase, the administration seeks a 10% reduction in nondefense discretionary spending and plans to shift some federal programs and responsibilities to state and local governments. The White House summary says savings would come from cutting what it describes as “woke, weaponized, and wasteful programs” and returning responsibilities to states.
The budget proposes eliminating nearly 30 grants the administration says are duplicative, ineffective at reducing crime, or “weaponized against the American people,” as part of efforts to “end weaponization of the Department of Justice.” It requests a $481 million increase to hire more air traffic controllers and improve aviation safety, and $605 million to cover National Guard mobilizations in Washington, D.C.
Specific proposed cuts include $768 million from the refugee resettlement program and $819 million from the Unaccompanied Alien Children program. The budget seeks $5 billion in reductions to the National Institutes of Health, criticizing the agency for breaking public trust, and $356 million in cuts to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, which handles public health emergency preparedness and response. It also calls for a $52 million cut to the Transportation Security Administration by beginning to privatize screening at smaller airports.
President Trump reiterated his preference for shifting more domestic responsibilities to state governments during an Easter White House luncheon, saying the federal government should focus on military protection and war, while programs like daycare, Medicaid and other services should be managed and funded at the state level.