White House: Trump budget will hike defense spending by $54B

US President Donald Trump will propose a federal budget that dramatically increases defence-related spending by US$54 billion (NZ$74.8b) while cutting other federal agencies by the same amount, according to an administration official. One significant factor, however, is that while budget resolutions can pass by a simple majority vote-as can “budget reconciliation” bills-appropriations bills, last-minute spending deals, and continuing resolutions are ordinary legislation that’s subject to a filibuster.

The White House circulated a preview of the president’s remarks in which he is expected to outline his priorities for the country. It would not be surprising if Trump has put in a bigger number in hopes to negotiate a smaller number he may have wanted to begin with.

The Trump administration is hawking what it calls a “security budget” ahead of the president’s joint address to Congress Tuesday night.

Asked if the Environmental Protection Agency, which drew Trump’s ire during the campaign, would feel the brunt of the cuts, the official declined to comment on specifics. A government shutdown is a real possibility.

The White House will send Trump’s proposal to federal departments on Monday as he gears up for budget negotiations with Congress that often take months to play out.

The proposed cuts to agencies like the EPA also do not come as a surprise.

Trump called his proposed defense increase “historic”, and that it will send a “message to the world in these risky times, of American strength, security and resolve”.

If they don’t want to add to the deficit, which they say they won’t, and also to the national debt, they’re going to have to find offsetting cuts somewhere else because the president says he’s not raising taxes. The upcoming submission covers the budget year starting on October 1.

On Monday, the White House said it would request $54 billion more in military spending for next year. “So I think that might be my highest and best use”, he said.

He did say programs to be reduced are all programs Trump has talked about publicly. As a candidate, Trump promised to leave major entitlements untouched, breaking with some Republican leaders who believe the costly programs need to be reformed.

To reach its defense spending goal, however, the White House will need to persuade Congress to change a 2011 law, known as the Budget Control Act (BCA), that was created to maintain a balance between military and civilian spending. “He doesn’t want to add to next year’s deficit which is already going to be nearly $500 billion”.