President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a fiscal‑year 2026 budget blueprint that would trim non‑defense discretionary spending by almost one‑quarter while sending the Pentagon its largest single‑year increase in decades.
The proposal, delivered to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget, cuts domestic accounts by roughly $163 billion, about 22.6 percent below current levels, and raises national‑defense funding by 13 percent to just over $1 trillion.
The White House presentation frames the reductions as the next step in an ongoing effort to “root out waste and woke ideology” across government.
OMB Director Russ Vought told lawmakers that many targeted grants and research programs “have drifted far from core federal responsibilities and now bankroll niche agendas that don’t serve everyday Americans.”
Hard security accounts move in the opposite direction. Besides the $113 billion topline jump for the Defense Department, the plan dedicates an additional $175 billion to the Department of Homeland Security to expand border barriers, increase deportation flights, and hire thousands of new agents.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the document as “a bold blueprint that reflects the values of hardworking Americans.” Rep. Chip Roy echoed the sentiment, commenting, “finally roll spending back below pre‑COVID levels and keep our military strong.”
Not every Republican is on board. Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell questioned the structure of the defense hike. He called the reliance on a still‑unwritten reconciliation bill “a gimmick that could leave commanders short of ready cash when they need it most.”
Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the package for slicing funds from child‑care assistance, medical research, and renewable‑energy grants while asking consumers to pay higher prices through new tariffs.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins said in a statement that the request arrives “late and laden with problems,” adding that Congress retains the constitutional power of the purse.
Budgets rarely become law as written, but they mark the opening bid in months of Capitol Hill negotiations. Lawmakers must finalize agency funding before the fiscal year starts on October 1.
Friday’s release shows the president making good on campaign promises to shrink Washington and fortify America’s defenses. Tthe numbers set the stage for a summer budget battle that will test the unity of both parties, and decide whether Trump’s second‑term vision reshapes federal priorities for years to come.