President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, a roughly $500 billion jump from this year’s Pentagon topline.
He offered few details in a Truth Social post, saying the funding would pay for his “Dream Military,” and suggesting tariff revenues could help cover the increase.
What Trump is trying to fund
The proposed increase comes as the White House pushes costly priorities, including the Golden Dome air defense effort and a call for a new battleship design.
The report noted neither initiative could be fully funded under current spending levels.
Congress already pushed spending to $1 trillion
Defense spending reached $1 trillion this year after Congress added $150 billion through a reconciliation bill, though much of that money is expected to be spread over the next five years.
Lawmakers have not yet completed a defense spending bill for the current fiscal year, but a final agreement is expected to add several billion dollars above Trump’s request.
Republicans split on feasibility, not direction
Some Republicans have argued for annual Pentagon budgets around 5% of GDP, up from roughly 3.5%.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said:
“We think we need a permanent 4 percent [of GDP] or better.”
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said defense spending “needs to go up,” but did not say whether the proposed increase is realistic.
Stock buybacks and another reconciliation fight
Trump’s budget comments came hours after he criticized major defense companies and said he would not allow stock buybacks, large executive pay, or dividends.
A defense lobbyist said the administration may need reconciliation again to fund major initiatives at that scale.
