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On Thursday, Trump administration officials defended how they proposed to spend tax dollars in the upcoming fiscal year, including a $1.5 trillion defense budget.”This budget will ensure the United States continues to maintain the world’s most powerful and capable military as we grapple with an increasingly dangerous world,” Russell Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, said during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on Thursday. The proposal includes a substantial upfront investment to expand military capabilities, rebuild U.S. weapons stockpiles, and address national security.”If they say, look, we’re going to build a facility that’s going to add X-number of drones, and planes, and ships, then we as a buyer can be ready to take that good deal. That’s what this budget is about,” Vought said. Republicans have largely supported defense funding, especially as the war in Iran escalates. During Thursday’s hearing, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana questioned, “When he was alive, would you have given Charles Manson a nuclear weapon?” Vought responded, “Absolutely not.”The Republican senator added, “Isn’t that what Iran’s all about?”Democrats have raised concerns about the impact of domestic spending cuts and the administration’s handling of current war costs.”You refusing here today to provide specific costs as to what this war is costing us on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis,” Sen. Alex Padilla of California said to Vought. “I expect so much more from the head of OMB. It seems like you’re not taking this job seriously to stay on top of the dollars.”To help fund the record defense request, the administration proposed a 10% cut to non-defense spending. The budget proposal included cuts to three major areas: green energy programs, including subsidies for electric vehicle charging stations and climate initiatives; housing programs, such as affordable housing grants and resources; and education programs, like higher education initiatives and several K-12 grants.The $1.5 trillion defense proposal is separate from the administration’s recent supplemental request to fund the war in Iran. That was a $200 billion ask, but could be closer to $100 billion, according to Republican leaders. The administration is also seeking billions of dollars to pay Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and build the border wall next year. Many Democrats pointed out that the agency cannot pay its officers during the current partial shutdown. Lawmakers have demanded ICE reforms before approving additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security. More on federal spending coverage is below:
On Thursday, Trump administration officials defended how they proposed to spend tax dollars in the upcoming fiscal year, including a $1.5 trillion defense budget.
“This budget will ensure the United States continues to maintain the world’s most powerful and capable military as we grapple with an increasingly dangerous world,” Russell Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, said during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on Thursday.
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The proposal includes a substantial upfront investment to expand military capabilities, rebuild U.S. weapons stockpiles, and address national security.
“If they say, look, we’re going to build a facility that’s going to add X-number of drones, and planes, and ships, then we as a buyer can be ready to take that good deal. That’s what this budget is about,” Vought said.
Republicans have largely supported defense funding, especially as the war in Iran escalates. During Thursday’s hearing, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana questioned, “When he was alive, would you have given Charles Manson a nuclear weapon?” Vought responded, “Absolutely not.”
The Republican senator added, “Isn’t that what Iran’s all about?”
Democrats have raised concerns about the impact of domestic spending cuts and the administration’s handling of current war costs.
“You refusing here today to provide specific costs as to what this war is costing us on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis,” Sen. Alex Padilla of California said to Vought. “I expect so much more from the head of OMB. It seems like you’re not taking this job seriously to stay on top of the dollars.”
To help fund the record defense request, the administration proposed a 10% cut to non-defense spending. The budget proposal included cuts to three major areas: green energy programs, including subsidies for electric vehicle charging stations and climate initiatives; housing programs, such as affordable housing grants and resources; and education programs, like higher education initiatives and several K-12 grants.
The $1.5 trillion defense proposal is separate from the administration’s recent supplemental request to fund the war in Iran. That was a $200 billion ask, but could be closer to $100 billion, according to Republican leaders.
The administration is also seeking billions of dollars to pay Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and build the border wall next year. Many Democrats pointed out that the agency cannot pay its officers during the current partial shutdown. Lawmakers have demanded ICE reforms before approving additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
More on federal spending coverage is below:
