White House seeks US$1.5 tn defence budget as Iran war drives costs

## Summary
Advertisement World White House seeks US$1.5 tn defence budget as Iran war drives costs US President Donald Trump has proposed a US$1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, the largest single-year increase in US military spending since World War II. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump asked lawmakers on Friday (Apr 3) to approve a massive US$1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments. To offset part of the increase, Trump is proposing around US$73 billion in cuts to non-defence spending - roughly 10 per cent - "reducing or eliminating woke, weaponised and wasteful programmes, and by returning State and local responsibilities to their respective governments." The president has framed the defence increase in urgent terms, arguing that military investment must take precedence during wartime, even at the expense of federal social programmes. "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare," Trump said at a recent private event, adding that such responsibilities could be handled at the state level while Washington focuses on "military protection." "RECKLESS FOREIGN WARS" Democrats swiftly attacked the proposal, with the party's Senate budget leader Patty Murray warning it prioritised military spending over Americans' needs and accusing Trump of pursuing "reckless foreign wars." "Donald Trump might be happy to spend more money on bombs in the Middle East than on families here in America - but I am not," she said in a statement. Related: US lawmakers urge Taiwan to pass stalled US$40 billion defence budget Iran vows 'crushing' attacks on US after Trump threats Trump says US may exit Iran war soon, threatens to quit NATO as oil crisis escalates There is similar scepticism about the domestic cuts, many of which Congress has previously rejected.

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White House seeks US$1.5 tn defence budget as Iran war drives costs
US President Donald Trump has proposed a US$1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, the largest single-year increase in US military spending since World War II.
US President Donald Trump arrives from the Blue Room to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026, in Washington. (Photo: AP/Alex Brandon)
04 Apr 2026 02:23AM
(Updated: 04 Apr 2026 02:24AM)
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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump asked lawmakers on Friday (Apr 3) to approve a massive US$1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments.
The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40 per cent in a single year - the sharpest increase since World War II - as Washington seeks to sustain military operations and rebuild depleted weapons stockpiles.
The request highlights the growing financial pressure of
a conflict now in its fifth week
, and sets up a political battle in Congress over how to fund a dramatic expansion of military spending.
US media - citing closed-door congressional briefings - have reported that the Iran war could be costing as much as US$2 billion a day, underscoring the scale of the burden even before longer-term reconstruction and resupply costs are factored in.
To offset part of the increase, Trump is proposing around US$73 billion in cuts to non-defence spending - roughly 10 per cent - "reducing or eliminating woke, weaponised and wasteful programmes, and by returning State and local responsibilities to their respective governments."
The president has framed the defence increase in urgent terms, arguing that military investment must take precedence during wartime, even at the expense of federal social programmes.
"It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare," Trump said at a recent private event, adding that such responsibilities could be handled at the state level while Washington focuses on "military protection."
"RECKLESS FOREIGN WARS"
Democrats swiftly attacked the proposal, with the party's Senate budget leader Patty Murray warning it prioritised military spending over Americans' needs and accusing Trump of pursuing "reckless foreign wars."
"Donald Trump might be happy to spend more money on bombs in the Middle East than on families here in America - but I am not," she said in a statement.
The White House released the request as part of a detailed 92-page budget proposal, alongside summaries outlining its priorities across federal agencies.
The plan is not binding but serves as a statement of the administration's priorities as Congress begins drafting spending legislation, with lawmakers retaining the power to rewrite or reject it.
Trump is urging Congress to approve the bulk of the defence budget - more than US$1.1 trillion - through the standard appropriations process, while seeking to pass a further US$350 billion using a party-line mechanism that would bypass Democratic support.
Republican leaders have shown openness to that approach, particularly as they push for higher defence and immigration enforcement spending. But the plan may face resistance within Trump's own party, where some lawmakers are wary of deepening federal deficits.
The United States is already running annual shortfalls approaching US$2 trillion, with total debt exceeding US$39 trillion, leaving limited fiscal space for new spending without further widening the gap.
Lawmakers from both parties have also raised concerns about the scale of the proposed military increase, particularly as the administration has provided limited detail on the trajectory of the Iran conflict.
Related:
US lawmakers urge Taiwan to pass stalled US$40 billion defence budget
Iran vows 'crushing' attacks on US after Trump threats
Trump says US may exit Iran war soon, threatens to quit NATO as oil crisis escalates
There is similar scepticism about the domestic cuts, many of which Congress has previously rejected. Spending bills passed earlier this year largely preserved funding for programmes the White House is again seeking to reduce or eliminate.
Beyond defence, the administration is proposing increased funding for federal law enforcement, including a boost of more than US$40 billion for the Justice Department.
Even so, the plan could add trillions more to the federal debt over the coming decade if enacted in full, highlighting the trade-offs facing lawmakers as they weigh wartime demands against long-term fiscal pressures.
Some Republicans, however,

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers, the respective chairmen of the Senate and House armed services committees, praised Trump in a joint statement for "sending a clear signal for our allies and partners to build on recent progress and meet this benchmark alongside us." Source: AFP/fs Sign up for our newsletters Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Subscribe here Get the CNA app Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Download here Get WhatsApp alerts Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app Join here Related Topics White House US-Israel war on Iran Donald Trump Advertisement Also worth reading Content is loading...

### Areas for Consideration
- The United States is already running annual shortfalls approaching US$2 trillion, with total debt exceeding US$39 trillion, leaving limited fiscal space for new spending without further widening the gap.

### Implications
- US media - citing closed-door congressional briefings - have reported that the Iran war could be costing as much as US$2 billion a day, underscoring the scale of the burden even before longer-term reconstruction and resupply costs are factored in.
- To offset part of the increase, Trump is proposing around US$73 billion in cuts to non-defence spending - roughly 10 per cent - "reducing or eliminating woke, weaponised and wasteful programmes, and by returning State and local responsibilities to their respective governments." The president has framed the defence increase in urgent terms, arguing that military investment must take precedence during wartime, even at the expense of federal social programmes. "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare," Trump said at a recent private event, adding that such responsibilities could be handled at the state level while Washington focuses on "military protection." "RECKLESS FOREIGN WARS" Democrats swiftly attacked the proposal, with the party's Senate budget leader Patty Murray warning it prioritised military spending over Americans' needs and accusing Trump of pursuing "reckless foreign wars." "Donald Trump might be happy to spend more money on bombs in the Middle East than on families here in America - but I am not," she said in a statement.
- But the plan may face resistance within Trump's own party, where some lawmakers are wary of deepening federal deficits.
- Related: US lawmakers urge Taiwan to pass stalled US$40 billion defence budget Iran vows 'crushing' attacks on US after Trump threats Trump says US may exit Iran war soon, threatens to quit NATO as oil crisis escalates There is similar scepticism about the domestic cuts, many of which Congress has previously rejected.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers trump, defence, spending topics. Notable strengths include discussion of trump. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 965.