US President Donald Trump has asked Congress to vote on a national defense budget of $892.6 billion for fiscal year 2026, which is unchanged from this year, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The budget proposal presented today by the White House prioritizes rebuilding the armed forces, re-establishing deterrence and promoting national security.
The White House Office of Management and Budget "does not want a trillion-dollar budget. It is asking for a budget of $892.6 billion, a real-terms reduction,” said a statement from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the influential Senate Armed Services Committee.
"This budget would limit President Trump's military options and his negotiating leverage," it added.
The national security proposal includes funding for the Department of Defense, as well as other services and programs that contribute to the security and defense of the United States.
In addition to the funding request, congressional Republicans plan to introduce a $150 billion defense package as part of Trump's sweeping tax cut bill. It would cut taxes by $5 trillion and add about $5.7 trillion to the federal government's debt over the next decade.
The White House said the funding would be used to strengthen U.S. safety, security and sovereignty, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region and revitalize the military-industrial base.
The budget request "builds on the president's promise to achieve peace through strength" and to "revive the warrior spirit of our armed forces," the statement said.
The budget request will now be reviewed and debated in Congress, and lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed spending levels and priorities in the coming weeks, Reuters noted.