President Trump unveiled his 2026 budget plan
Image: Evan Vucci/AP
In a letter to Congress on Friday, the White House outlined a fiscal blueprint for the 2026 budget that would significantly reduce spending on domestic programs while boosting funding towards national security.
- It marks the first budget of Trumpâs second term, in which presidents typically define the main goals of the administration alongside their party in Congress.
The budget blueprint
The White Houseâs fiscal plan aims to reduce discretionary non-defense spendingâwhich excludes programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaidâby $163 billion compared to the current fiscal year, a drop of 22.6%. The plan would bring spending in that area to its lowest level since 2017, according to the White House.
Overall, programs throughout the federal government related to climate change, foreign assistance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion would see cuts. These include the EPA, USAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF).
Other areas would see spending boosts. Trumpâs budget proposal would increase military spending by 13% to a record $1.01 trillion, while appropriations for the Department of Homeland Securityâwhich oversees border securityâwould increase by ~65% to $107 billion.
- Charter schools would have their funding increased, while Health Secretary RFK Jr.âs âMake America Healthy Againâ initiative would receive $500 million.
- Air and rail safety, veteransâ health care, and law enforcement would also see boosted spending.
Both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns. Democratic lawmakers pushed back against Trumpâs budget proposal, framing it as an attack on government programs that help working Americans and also ensure the US remains the world leader in innovation and research.
On the flip side, some GOP defense hawks argue Trumpâs proposal doesnât actually boost military spending, since it includes $120 billion thatâs part of pending legislation via a separate budget process.
Looking aheadâŚPresidential budgets almost never survive the congressional appropriations process fully intact, but serve to shape debates on Capitol Hill about the coming fiscal year.
Flash poll: In general, do you support or oppose President Trumpâs budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that in order to approve their budget, the GOP will have to drastically cut other parts of the federal budgetânotably Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which would affect health care and the economy across America.
- Others contend that Trump and Republicans are right to identify that current government spending is completely unsustainableâand while efforts like DOGE are haphazard, sloppy, and create lasting harm, they also serve to expose the need for spending changes on Capitol Hill.
- âWhere Congress goes next on the budget will matter to you and the whole countryâ âFormer Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN)
- âDOGEâs Damage Makes Way for Serious Government Reformâ âBloomberg Editorial Board
- âDeath by a Thousand Federal Cuts: Trump Administration Actions Will Not Make America Healthy Againâ âPaula M. Lantz, The Milbank Quarterly
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Trumpâs budget is a great first step towards reducing the vast amounts of federal spending waste that existâbut it doesnât go far enough, and cutting efforts should eventually extend to mandatory spending like Medicaid, ObamaCare subsidies, food stamps, and other âincome securityâ payments.
- Others contend that Trumpâs bold plan will cut off special interests whoâve fed too long from the public purse, get the government off the back of the productive private sector, and reverse the long decline of the nationâs defenses.
- âA Not So Radical Trump Budgetâ âWSJ Editorial Board
- âTrumpâs âbig, beautifulâ budget plan delivers for Americaâ âNY Post Editorial Board
- âThe White Houseâs Next Orchestrated Budget Crisisâ âJosh Marshall, TalkingPoints
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