President Donald Trump announced plans Thursday to seek a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, a dramatic increase from the roughly $901 billion allocated for 2026, as the administration presses ahead with an ambitious expansion of U.S. military capabilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the proposed funding would allow the United States to build what he called his “Dream Military,” arguing that revenues from tariffs would help support the higher spending level rather than forcing adherence to a lower target.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 7, 2026
The proposed jump comes as the administration advances several costly initiatives, including the Golden Dome homeland missile defense system and plans for advanced naval vessels. Defense analysts have said such programs would require funding well above recent levels to move from concept to full deployment.
Congress has already boosted current defense spending through supplemental allocations, including $150 billion spread across multiple years for a range of projects, noted Politico. Even so, maintaining that pace of growth year after year would present challenges as lawmakers continue to debate fiscal priorities and long-term budget constraints.
Republican lawmakers largely welcomed the proposal. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called the president’s target “a good news story,” arguing that sustained increases are necessary to rebuild U.S. military strength. “We think we need a permanent 4 percent [of GDP] or better,” Bacon said. “That’s what it’s gonna take to build our Navy, our Air Force, our ICBMs, our bombers, and take care of our troops.”
Bacon emphasized that many lawmakers want assurances the spending surge would extend beyond a single budget cycle. “A lot of us are saying we want a commitment to a sustained spending [increase], not just a one-year,” he said.
Other Republicans echoed that support. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said he would closely examine the president’s request, while Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) praised the push for higher funding levels. “For too long, we have underfunded our defense apparatus—undermining our national security and benefiting our foreign adversaries,” Womack said. “A strong national defense is critical to our long-term prosperity and to protecting our country against every emerging threat. I commend President Trump for his leadership and look forward to working to advance a $1.5 trillion defense bill.”
.@POTUS is absolutely right. For too long, we have underfunded our defense apparatus—undermining our national security and benefiting our foreign adversaries. A strong national defense is critical to our long‑term prosperity and to protecting our country against every emerging… https://t.co/UfpBht792J
— Rep. Steve Womack (@rep_stevewomack) January 7, 2026
A defense lobbyist, speaking on condition of anonymity to Politico, underscored the scale of the financial challenge tied to the administration’s priorities. “Golden Dome and Golden Fleet are completely unaffordable without budgets of this size, so the administration would need to come up with the numbers to back it up,” the lobbyist said.
The announcement follows Trump’s recent public criticism of major defense contractors over production delays and rising costs, adding another layer to an already contentious debate over military spending and industry accountability.
Securing approval for a $1.5 trillion defense budget would require congressional consent and complex negotiations, as lawmakers balance national security demands against competing domestic priorities and long-term fiscal pressures.
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