If enacted, it would set military spending at its highest level in modern history, underscoring the US’ ongoing focus on defence investment
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenYuanyue Dangin WashingtonPublished: 2:26am, 4 Apr 2026US President Donald Trump is seeking congressional approval for US$1.5 trillion in defence spending in his new budget proposal, underscoring his administration’s focus on military investment as the country remains engaged in conflict in the Middle East.The blueprint released by the White House on Friday for the financial year 2027 proposes a 44 per cent increase in the US defence budget – implementing the widely controversial plan first unveiled by Trump in a January social media post.
If approved, this would mark the highest military investment in US modern history, according to experts.
By contrast, the 2027 budget proposal aims to cut non-defence spending by US$73 billion, a 10 per cent reduction, including housing, social services, healthcare and other domestic programmes.
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