Former President Donald Trump has called for US defence spending to be increased to $1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion) in 2027 for what he described as 'these very troubled and dangerous times.'
This proposed figure represents a more than 50% increase from this year's budget of $901 billion, which was officially approved by Congress in December. In a statement on social media, Trump asserted, 'This will allow us to build the Dream Military that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe.'
Additionally, Trump claimed he is prepared to address the inefficiencies among defense contractors, specifically targeting major firms like Raytheon, which he labelled as 'the least responsive' to America’s defense needs. He warned those companies to either enhance their production capabilities and infrastructure or risk losing their contracts with the Department of Defense.
Despite warnings from economists about the unsustainable nature of US spending in relation to its income, Trump expressed confidence that the proposed budget could be easily achieved, thanks to revenue generated through tariffs.
Trump, who has consistently advocated for higher military spending throughout his political career, reiterated this stance during his recent social media engagement, highlighting the urgency of fortifying national security in light of international threats.
