What happened

President Trump requested $1.5 trillion in defence spending for fiscal year 2027. This is the largest military budget in US history, representing a 44% increase over current levels.

The base defence budget alone would exceed $1 trillion for the first time. An additional $350 billion would bypass the Senate filibuster through budget reconciliation, avoiding the traditional bipartisan negotiation process.

Why it matters: The proposal would reshape federal spending priorities, pairing record military investment with $73 billion in cuts to domestic programmes including health research, education, and low-income housing.

The case for the increase

Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who chair the armed services committees, said the budget “provides the resources needed to rebuild American military capability.”

Specific items include $65.8 billion for 34 ships, $17.5 billion for the “Golden Dome” missile defence system, 85 F-35 fighter jets, and expanded munitions production.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought called the proposal a “historic paradigm shift” that breaks what he described as a decades-old pattern where Democrats demanded domestic spending increases in exchange for defence increases.

The case against

Senator Patty Murray called the budget “reckless,” arguing the Pentagon “can’t possibly spend half a trillion dollars more” in a way that is responsible or effective.

Representative Betty McCollum described it as a “blank check to the Pentagon” that comes at the direct expense of programmes Americans depend on.

The $73 billion in proposed domestic cuts target health research, K-12 and higher education, renewable energy and climate grants, low-income housing energy programmes, and community development block grants.

Process concerns on both sides

The decision to route $350 billion through reconciliation has drawn bipartisan unease. Senator Susan Collins reminded colleagues that “Congress holds the power of the purse.”

Senator Mitch McConnell welcomed the defence increase but cautioned that reconciliation “cannot replace annual appropriations.” Former Biden budget official Joe Carlile warned the approach makes dealmaking harder because “you’re not sure if the deal that you strike is even a deal.”

What happens next

Full budget details will be released on 21 April. Congressional debate is expected to be contentious, with the reconciliation strategy likely to face legal and procedural challenges.