Trump budget proposes broad Pentagon funding boost
Pentagon budget documents released Tuesday call for $574 billion in general defense funding
WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Donald Trump s proposed 2018 budget calls for a significant jump in the Pentagon s vast budget, though it falls short of the historic spending bonanza sought by more hawkish Republicans.
Pentagon budget documents released Tuesday call for $574 billion in general defense funding, with an additional $65 billion for supplemental wartime spending -- for a total of $639 billion.
The proposed spending boost represents an increase of more than $50 billion -- about 10 percent -- over 2017 funding levels for the base budget, but an increase amounting to only about three percent over projections envisioned by the Obama administration.
Even though the United States already spends more on defense than the next seven nations combined, some lawmakers and Pentagon officials have long bemoaned spending caps introduced in 2011 as impacting all services.
"Since enactment of the Budget Control Act in 2011, the world has become a more dangerous place with rising terrorism and more aggressive potential adversaries," Pentagon comptroller John Roth said.
"The military has during that same period of time become smaller, readiness has eroded and modernization has been deferred. That s not a good place to be."
Trump in February promised what he said would be "one of the greatest military buildups in American history" but hawkish Republicans have said his proposed increases are insufficient.
The additional money for defense would be offset by deep cuts to the State Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and a variety of social welfare programs.
"The world is a very dangerous place these days, so there is a compelling justification for this budget," said Lieutenant General Anthony Ierardi when asked why Americans should accept the extra spending.
