Trump's budget director defends White House plan for massive boost in
military spending
[April 16, 2026]
By KEVIN FREKING
WASHINGTON (AP) — An effort to ramp up U.S. weapons production and build
more ships, planes and drones will require a massive upfront investment,
President Donald Trump's budget director told a House committee
Wednesday.
The testimony from Russell Vought jump-starts the White House's push to
increase defense spending to nearly $1.5 trillion in the next budget
year, up from nearly $1 trillion this year, while cutting health
research, heating assistance and scores of other domestic programs by
about 10% overall. Such cuts do not cover mandatory spending, which
includes such programs as Social Security and Medicare.
The debate over Trump's proposal underscored the sharp divide that will
shape some of the most significant policy debates going into a midterm
election that will give voters the ultimate say on the direction of the
country.
“For the industrial base to double or triple and build more facilities,
not just add shifts, it requires multiyear agreements to purchase into
the future,” Vought told lawmakers. “That cost has to be booked in this
first year.”
The White House is calling for about $1.1 trillion for defense through
the regular appropriations process, which typically requires support
from both parties for approval. An additional $350 billion would come
through a separate bill that Republicans can accomplish on their own,
through party-line majority votes.
Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the ranking Democratic member of the
committee, said he believes in a strong national defense. But he said
the idea of increasing defense by more than 40% while cutting programs
that people need shows that the Republican administration's priorities
are "out of whack.”
The committee chairman, Rep. Jodey Arrington predicted the hearing would
be more “amped up” than usual, and that proved to be true, beginning
with his opening statement focused on criticizing Democrat Joe Biden's
presidency. Arrington, R-Texas, said he did not know of any president in
his lifetime who “inherited such a complete and utter mess as President
Trump did in January of last year.”
Since then, Arrington said, Trump has secured the border, cut taxes and
constrained nondefense spending.
It was the beginning of several back-and-forths at the hearing.
“You know how bad this economy is when we hear Joe Biden being invoked,
we hear trans people being invoked. I was waiting for Jimmy Carter to be
blamed next," Boyle said in response to Arrington's opening remarks.
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Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought testifies
during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the rescissions
package on Capitol Hill, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam
Zuhaib, file)
Boyle said consumer confidence is plummeting under Trump and noted a
gas station he passed in Philadelphia recently was selling gas at
$4.11 a gallon versus less than $3 a gallon some six weeks ago
because of Trump's “war of choice in Iran.”
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., called the proposed defense spending
increase shocking.
“We've never in the history of this country seen spending like this,
paid for by slashing health care, education and housing,” Balint
said. “Mr. Vought, yes or no, is $350 billion for the war in Iran
lowering costs for Americans?”
“It is certainly not defunding child care. We fully fund child care
in this budget,” Vought said, not directly answering the question.
Balint went on to incorporate Trump's “America First” mantra in her
questioning.
She said $350 billion could pay for an enhanced health insurance tax
credit for 10 years and that her constituents are asking how the
country can continue to spend money on wars and not find a solution
to helping people afford health care.
Vought said the president has made clear he was not going to let
Iran have a nuclear weapons, missiles and a navy that affect U.S.
national security.
“He is doing what is necessary to keep us safe, while at the same
time trying to pursue diplomacy so that we can get out of wars and
lower those costs over time,” Vought said.
Vought said it was unclear how much the administration would seek to
fund the war during the current budget year, which ends Sept. 30.
That money would be part of an emergency supplemental spending bill
and would be on top of the funds the White House is seeking to boost
defense spending next year.
“Would it be more than $50 billion?” asked Rep. Veronica Escobar,
D-Texas.
“We're still working on it," Vought said. “I don't have a ballpark
for you.”
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