Washington: The White House administration Friday called on Congress to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for next year.
This request comes amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran and Washington's efforts to fund its military operations and replenish its weapons stockpiles.
It also represents the largest annual increase in Pentagon defense spending since World War II, exceeding this year's budget by more than 40 percent in a single year.
American reports suggest that the cost of the war in the Middle East could reach $2 billion per day. To offset some of the increase, the White House administration is proposing approximately $73 billion in cuts to non-defense spending.
In this context, Trump emphasized the urgent need to increase defense spending, stating that military investment must take priority during wartime, even at the expense of federal social programs. He called on Congress to approve the bulk of the budget-more than $1.1 trillion-through the regular annual government funding process, and to pass the remaining $350 billion through the same bipartisan legislative maneuver that enabled Republicans to secure tax cuts without Democratic support last year.
This would be coupled with increased funding for federal law enforcement, including more than $40 billion for the Department of Justice.
Republican leaders have shown openness to this approach, particularly as they seek to increase spending on defense and immigration enforcement. Furthermore, spending bills passed earlier this year largely maintain funding for programs that the White House is again attempting to reduce or eliminate.
The US runs an annual deficit of nearly $2 trillion, with a total debt exceeding $39 trillion, leaving limited fiscal space for new spending without further widening the gap.
