Pentagon leader celebrates approval of inaugural $1 trillion defense budget
On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed a historic increase in U.S. military spending. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has committed to enhancing the lethality of the U.S. military through President Trump’s forthcoming record $1 trillion...
TroibNews 
On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed a historic increase in U.S. military spending.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has committed to enhancing the lethality of the U.S. military through President Trump’s forthcoming record $1 trillion defense budget.
Trump made the announcement during a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized that even though the current administration is “very cost-conscious,” the military remains a priority for expansion.
Hegseth praised the president's militarization initiative in a post on his personal X account the following day.
“President @realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military — and FAST,” he expressed, expressing gratitude to Trump for the decision. “We intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely — on lethality and readiness.”
“Thank you Mr. President!”
COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget.
President @realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military — and FAST.
pic.twitter.com/WcZlNAHgDG
— Pete Hegseth, April 7, 2025
This militarization effort coincides with the Trump administration’s budget cuts aimed at eliminating excess spending through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, this department has resulted in approximately 280,000 federal workers being laid off in recent months.
The current U.S. Defense Department budget, which was approved last December, exceeds $895 billion. Comparatively, China, the world's second-largest defense spender, has allocated $256 billion for defense in 2025, while Russia, in third place, has budgeted $157 billion.
Despite the enormous budget, the Pentagon failed its audit for the seventh consecutive year last year, unable to account for over $150 billion in expenditures.
Even with this unprecedented budget boost, the proposed $1 trillion will not fulfill the NATO defense spending goal of 5% of annual GDP that Trump has advocated for among European allies in the U.S.-led military alliance.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has committed to enhancing the lethality of the U.S. military through President Trump’s forthcoming record $1 trillion defense budget.
Trump made the announcement during a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized that even though the current administration is “very cost-conscious,” the military remains a priority for expansion.
Hegseth praised the president's militarization initiative in a post on his personal X account the following day.
“President @realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military — and FAST,” he expressed, expressing gratitude to Trump for the decision. “We intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely — on lethality and readiness.”
“Thank you Mr. President!”
COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget.
President @realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military — and FAST.
pic.twitter.com/WcZlNAHgDG
— Pete Hegseth, April 7, 2025
This militarization effort coincides with the Trump administration’s budget cuts aimed at eliminating excess spending through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, this department has resulted in approximately 280,000 federal workers being laid off in recent months.
The current U.S. Defense Department budget, which was approved last December, exceeds $895 billion. Comparatively, China, the world's second-largest defense spender, has allocated $256 billion for defense in 2025, while Russia, in third place, has budgeted $157 billion.
Despite the enormous budget, the Pentagon failed its audit for the seventh consecutive year last year, unable to account for over $150 billion in expenditures.
Even with this unprecedented budget boost, the proposed $1 trillion will not fulfill the NATO defense spending goal of 5% of annual GDP that Trump has advocated for among European allies in the U.S.-led military alliance.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
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