Trump, Hegseth want $1 trillion for Pentagon budget
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have announced plans to increase the Pentagon budget to over $1 trillion for the first time in history. This decision was revealed during a press conference held alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump stated that the upcoming budget would be “in the vicinity” of $1 trillion, a significant increase from the current $850 billion budget.
Hegseth took to social media to express his excitement, posting, “COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget,” highlighting the administration’s commitment to rapidly rebuilding the military. The proposed budget, which includes funding for all national security programs, such as the Department of Defense and nuclear weapons development, currently stands at $892 billion for the year. A move to a $1 trillion Pentagon budget would represent a 12% increase from the current levels.
However, this budget increase comes as the Pentagon plans to implement cuts of 8% annually for five years across various programs to focus on modernization efforts. Additionally, the department aims to reduce its civilian workforce and consolidate bases worldwide. Trump emphasized the importance of this budget increase, stating, “We are getting a very, very powerful military. We have things under order now.”
White House officials are expected to present their budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 in the coming months, with Congress set to review and approve the appropriations process. Despite the significant budget boost, the United States would still fall short of Trump’s previous target for NATO countries to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense.
The additional funding is intended to kickstart the production of new military equipment and technologies. The administration recently unveiled a contract with Boeing for the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter jet, the F-47, which is estimated to cost around $20 billion from 2025 to 2029. Trump praised the capabilities of the new aircraft, emphasizing its superiority compared to existing models.
The announcement of the Navy’s next-generation fighter jet, F/A-XX, has been delayed, with Adm. James Kirby confirming that contract negotiations are ongoing at the highest levels of the Navy. The administration’s focus on bolstering the military through increased funding underscores its commitment to strengthening national security and defense capabilities.
