Pentagon Seeks $848B in Core Budget, Eyes Trillion-Dollar Defense with Supplemental Bill

The Pentagon unveiled its predicted fiscal year 2026 budget request on Thursday, suggesting $848.3 billion in primary defense funding — a decrease in real terms due to inflation — in addition to a $113 billion supplemental spending bill that would elevate total military expenditure to $961 billion, approaching the trillion-dollar defense budget promised by President Donald Trump.

The unexpected choice to divide the budget into two distinct bills has sparked criticism from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. During recent hearings, lawmakers expressed concerns about the potential consequences of moving essential programs, such as shipbuilding and missile defense, into a one-time supplemental. They cautioned that this could jeopardize future funding, leading defense contractors to be reluctant to invest in vital systems if long-term support remains uncertain.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood by the strategy, asserting that the supplemental bill is crucial for addressing essential priorities such as the $25 billion Golden Dome missile defense program and $5 billion for border operations. Pentagon officials asserted that the strategy conveys a more robust demand to the industry. However, they acknowledged the lack of preparation for the scenario in which Congress might dismiss the one-time measure — a decision that could endanger numerous essential programs.

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In a surprising turn of events, the Pentagon unveiled comprehensive budget documents late Wednesday night, catching lawmakers and industry leaders off guard and prompting a rush for understanding amidst the lack of prior notice or the usual public briefing. As of Thursday morning, a detailed budget summary has yet to be released.

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Significant alterations to the program include substantial reductions in staff and significant cuts to aircraft funding, notably a decrease in financial support for the E-7 Wedgetail surveillance plane and a mere $74 million designated to complete the Navy’s next-generation fighter design. Officials at the Pentagon have verified that the outcomes of those programs remain a topic of deliberation among top leadership.

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Amid the controversy, a high-ranking defense official indicated that the administration is likely to continue advocating for defense budgets nearing a trillion dollars, stating, “Unless the President’s tone changes, I imagine we’ll stick with a trillion dollars for national defense spending.”

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