Democrats expected to curb President Trump's $1.5 trillion defence budget request

Washington – After the November 3 midterm elections gave Democrats solid majorities in both chambers, the $1.5 trillion defence budget request presented by President Donald Trump faces strong opposition in Congress. Democrats have signaled they will block the proposal, which represents a 44 percent increase over the previous fiscal year, and are expected to approve a figure around $1 trillion, according to a source familiar with the planning.

Representative Adam Smith, the incoming chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said the nation needs a "more realistic and sustainable approach to our national security – one that does not require a defence budget in excess of US$1 trillion or one paid for with draconian cuts to critical domestic programmes."

The dispute puts several of the administration’s high-profile projects, such as the Golden Dome missile shield and the proposed Trump-class battleships, in doubt and has weighed on shares of major defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the request, arguing that the funds are needed to modernise the force as autonomous systems reshape warfare. However, the size of the increase, combined with concerns over domestic spending cuts and the ongoing conflict with Iran, has drawn criticism from both parties.

Analysts anticipate that the final budget will fall short of the administration’s target. Travis Sharp of the Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments wrote that "the budget ultimately passed by Congress will likely fall short of the Trump administration’s ambitions." Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute described the defence policy bill’s passage as "a coin toss" and warned that Democratic moves to limit the President’s war powers could derail the process.

Democratic leaders, including Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Glenn Ivey, have suggested focusing on short-term stopgap funding rather than a long-term authorisation bill, citing their new leverage in negotiations.

The defence policy bill and the fiscal-year-2027 spending plan, which began on Oct. 1 under temporary funding that expires on Dec. 11, remain in limbo as lawmakers prepare for the lame-duck session before the new Congress convenes in January 2027.