Washington D.C. — At a time when average Americans are struggling to afford basic living expenses, in no small part because of the Trump administration’s disastrous war against Iran, the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget represents a shocking admission of its misguided priorities. The President’s request for $1.5 trillion in new Pentagon spending would constitute the largest increase in decades and be a nearly 40% increase from last year’s budget. To pay for that increase, the proposal would cut billions in healthcare, housing, and energy assistance programs that support Americans here at home.
Americans cannot afford and do not need this level of military spending. The $1.5 trillion figure reflects an unwillingness to critically examine necessary tradeoffs within the Pentagon budget, including the need to modernize away from costly legacy systems in favor of smarter, more cost-effective technologies needed to fight and win wars today.
The administration’s request also proposes deep cuts to diplomatic and development programs, which would make it harder for the United States to work with our international partners to address global conflict, humanitarian disasters, and health crises before they spiral out of control. These non-military tools for global engagement are vital to protecting the interests of the American people, yet have been gutted by this administration.
We urge Congress to reject this budget and take serious steps toward rightsizing our investments in defense, diplomacy, and development tools to protect and deliver benefits for American families.
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