Updated May 10, 2026 / CBS News
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Sunday criticized the Trump administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal 2027, calling the request “outrageous” and saying it does not reflect the nation’s current needs. Speaking on Face the Nation, Kelly urged a more measured defense plan that fits “the moment we’re in.”
The administration’s proposal is a starting point for congressional negotiations and would represent roughly a 42% jump from 2026 defense spending. Kelly noted that when he took office five and a half years ago, the annual defense budget was just above $700 billion—making the administration’s current request roughly double that amount and comparable to what many other countries spend collectively.
Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, highlighted several line items he sees as problematic. In addition to planned troop pay increases and replenishing critical munitions, the request funds ambitious programs such as a proposed space-based missile defense system often referred to as “Golden Dome.” Kelly warned that the physics and technical challenges of such projects are daunting and said he expects significant spending on systems that may not work as intended.
The White House is also expected to seek supplemental funding tied to the war with Iran. At recent congressional hearings a Pentagon official estimated the conflict’s cost at about $25 billion, although some U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments have suggested the total could approach $50 billion.
Kelly expressed particular alarm about the state of U.S. munitions stocks after operations tied to the Iran conflict. Drawing on Pentagon briefings, he said the U.S. has drawn deeply on its magazines and warned that depleted munitions supplies reduce American readiness and deterrence — whether in a potential conflict in the western Pacific with China or elsewhere.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on social media, accusing Kelly of disclosing information from a classified Pentagon briefing and saying the department’s legal counsel would review whether the senator violated his oath.
Kelly’s comments add to the debate in Congress over how large a defense budget is necessary, how to balance near-term needs like munitions and troop pay against costly new programs, and how to fund military operations without undermining long-term readiness.