In a move that critics say dangerously prioritizes militarism over the needs of everyday Americans, President Donald Trump on Monday formally backed a staggering $1 trillion annual budget for the U.S. military, while his administration presses forward with a sweeping tariff agenda that amounts to one of the largest indirect tax increases on working families in modern American history.
During a press briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump boasted about the unprecedented scale of his proposed military budget, stating, “Nobody’s seen anything like it.” The proposed sum would mark a historic high for U.S. defense spending, eclipsing the current fiscal year’s $892 billion budget — which already accounts for over half of the federal government’s discretionary spending.
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth quickly amplified the announcement on social media, offering his unqualified support for the trillion-dollar budget, promising to channel those funds into so-called “lethality and readiness.”
A Recipe for Conflict and Economic Decline
Policy experts and defense analysts swiftly condemned the proposal, warning of its dangerous implications for both U.S. foreign policy and domestic stability. William Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, cautioned in a statement, “Spending $1 trillion on the Pentagon while hollowing out resources for diplomacy and launching a global trade war is a recipe for international conflict and American decline.”
Hartung added, “The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should have taught us the futility of a military-first foreign policy — one that costs both lives and taxpayer dollars while failing to deliver sustainable security. Confronting complex challenges like the rise of China demands a balanced strategy, one that preserves the option for diplomacy and cooperation on critical global issues including climate change, public health, and economic stability.”
A Trillion-Dollar Blunder
Analysts note that while Trump’s budget increases military spending to historic levels, his administration continues slashing essential programs that serve working-class Americans. Simultaneously, his tariff policies — pitched as “America First” protectionism — have quietly raised prices on everyday goods, effectively functioning as a regressive tax hike on households already under financial pressure.
Despite its ballooning budgets, the Pentagon remains plagued by inefficiency, fiscal mismanagement, and widespread contractor abuse. The department has repeatedly failed independent audits and faced bipartisan criticism for a lack of financial transparency.
Earlier this year, Hegseth publicly directed Pentagon leadership to draft proposals for long-term spending reductions. However, insiders now reveal those cuts would primarily target oversight, civilian positions, and non-combat operations — while funneling more money into controversial Trump pet projects like the proposed nationwide “Iron Dome” missile defense system.
A Congress Complicit in Crisis
Trump’s budget proposal will ultimately require approval from the Republican-controlled Congress, which is simultaneously advancing new rounds of tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations, while proposing deep reductions to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and other federal safety net initiatives.
“Trump plans on liquidating Medicaid and food aid while giving the Pentagon a trillion dollars,” said Stephen Semler, co-founder of the Security Policy Reform Institute. “If Democrats can’t craft a coherent, forceful political message out of these facts, they don’t qualify as an opposition party — or even a party.”
The administration’s actions represent what critics describe as a profound moral failure and strategic blunder, one that prioritizes war-making and corporate enrichment over the health, security, and prosperity of the American people.
As William Hartung warned, “Pursuing a trillion-dollar Pentagon budget at the expense of diplomacy, economic fairness, and basic services is not just reckless — it’s a trillion-dollar mistake with consequences for generations to come.”
