White House Proposes 8% Defense Budget Cut to Fund Trump’s Priorities

The White House intends to decrease the US defense budget by 8%, which could result in less than $300 billion spent on the military over five years. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given top military officials until February 24 to develop budget plans incorporating the reduction. Bloomberg was the first to report on the potential reduction. They intend to redirect $50 billion to initiatives more aligned with President Trump's interests, such as missile defense and border security.

The changes will unaffected some critical military projects, such as nuclear weapons and southern border operations. However, they are likely to impact military readiness and personnel. Some legislators have already spoken out against the plan, particularly Republicans who want increased defense funding.

The Department of Defense had a nearly $850 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, and the budget for fiscal year 2025 has not yet been determined. An 8% annual drop over five years would significantly impact the defense budget, contradicting the historical tendency of military spending rising above inflation.

The Washington Post obtained a copy of a letter from acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses, in which he underlined the importance of focusing resources on fighting wars while cutting what he called "unnecessary spending" on climate change projects and inefficient government operations. The government claims the cuts are necessary to focus the military better, but others argue that they would make US defense less effective in an increasingly unpredictable world.

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