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3471President Donald Trump said he plans to propose a $1 trillion defense budget, the largest in U.S. history, in a move that stunned many in Washington and reignited long-running debates over military spending, government priorities and national security.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump said the upcoming request would be “in the vicinity” of $1 trillion.
“Nobody’s seen anything like it,” he told reporters.
“We have to build our military, and we’re very cost-conscious, but the military is something that we have to build. And we have to be strong because you’ve got a lot of bad forces out there now.”
Big Promises, Bigger Cuts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed up the announcement in a personal post on X, saying the White House is getting ready to roll out the first-ever $1 trillion defense budget.
He emphasized that the spending would be focused on improving military lethality and operational readiness, and claimed that each taxpayer dollar would be used wisely.
The current national defense budget stands at $892 billion. Trump’s $1 trillion target would mark a dramatic increase of more than 12% and set a new record for Pentagon funding.
The announcement comes ahead of the official budget release, expected in late May, and has already sparked reactions across both sides of the aisle.
At the same time, the Pentagon is preparing for a major internal shake-up. Plans are underway to lay off tens of thousands of civilian employees and cut 8% from each military branch’s individual budget.
The idea, according to officials, is to redirect funds into modernization, new weapons systems and force readiness, while also reducing what the administration views as “non-essential” costs.
Hegseth is also reportedly considering consolidating U.S. bases at home and abroad. The move, officials say, would streamline operations and eliminate duplicate infrastructure—but could have ripple effects on local economies and employment.
Criticism Over What Gets Cut
While the Trump administration says it’s focused on eliminating “wasteful spending,” critics argue it’s targeting politically convenient programs instead of addressing systemic inefficiencies that cost taxpayers hundreds of billions annually.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by allies of tech executive Elon Musk, recently touted $80 million in budget cuts by scrapping diversity training, equity-focused grants, and academic research partnerships.
But watchdog groups argue those cuts represent a minuscule portion of the defense budget.
“If the goal is truly to trim unnecessary expenditures while preserving national security, then Congress and watchdog agencies should focus on where the real money is disappearing,” wrote Katerina Canyon, executive director of the Peace Economy Project, for The Guardian.
Canyon pointed to the F-35 fighter jet program as one of the worst offenders. The program’s lifetime cost has shot up to $1.7 trillion—which is about the same as Australia’s entire economy.
And even with that sky-high price tag, the jet still has a bunch of problems, like engine trouble, software glitches, and expensive upkeep.
Even more alarming to some is the Pentagon’s persistent failure to pass an audit. Since audits began in 2018, the Department of Defense has never passed one. In its most recent attempt, the agency couldn’t account for over half of its assets. Critics say this lack of transparency would be unacceptable in any other federal agency.
“The Pentagon does not need more money—it needs real financial accountability,” Canyon said.
If any other agency had failed six audits in a row, there would be hearings, oversight, and probably consequences.
Outdated Nukes and Overpriced Contracts
Another growing concern is the planned $264 billion Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program—part of a broader $756 billion nuclear modernization effort set to run through 2032.
Some experts say land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) don’t really make sense anymore because they’re outdated and not very useful.
Former Defense Secretary William Perry has warned that ICBMs might actually put the country at risk because they’re vulnerable to being wiped out in a surprise attack.
He believes keeping them around doesn’t make much sense in today’s world, especially with more secure options already in place.
Critics also point to the Pentagon’s ballooning reliance on private contractors. In 2022 alone, the Department of Defense spent over $400 billion on contractors, many of whom provide services that could be handled by government employees at a lower cost.
Oversight is often limited, raising concerns about overbilling and conflicts of interest.
Republicans in Congress Push for More
Trump and Hegseth are pushing the $1 trillion plan as a big move to make the military stronger, and Republicans in Congress are also working on their own idea to increase defense spending.
The Senate has proposed an additional $150 billion, while House Republicans are calling for $100 billion. Although no final figure has been settled, much of the money would likely be spread out over the next decade.
For now, Trump has yet to clarify whether the $1 trillion would be dedicated solely to the Pentagon or include the broader national defense budget, which also covers nuclear programs and other security agencies.
But either way, it represents a major shift in how the U.S. approaches defense funding.
Still, the early announcement sets the tone for what could become a defining issue in the months ahead: a record-breaking defense budget at a time when critics are calling for reform, not just more spending.
Whether the proposal will survive scrutiny from both watchdogs and lawmakers remains to be seen.
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