Trump’s budget unsurprisingly increases military spending, cuts into some domestic programs
The White House said Monday that President Trump’s upcoming budget will propose a $54 billion increase in defense spending and impose corresponding cuts to domestic programs and foreign aid.
The 10 percent increase for the Pentagon would fulfill a Trump campaign promise to build up the military. The senior budget office official said there will be a large reduction in foreign aid and that most domestic agencies will have to absorb cuts. White House budget officials outlined the information during a telephone call with reporters.
“The president will propose and the Congress will dispose,” Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., told Politico. “We’ll look at his budget, but at the end of the day we in Congress write the appropriations bills, and I am not one who thinks you can pay for an increase in (military) spending on the backs of domestic discretionary programs, which constitute 13 or 14 percent of all federal spending.”
“We are going to do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people,” Trump said Monday morning. “We can do so much more with the money we spend.”
This initial budget from President doesn’t appear to be aimed at cutting into the budget deficits projected to run about $500 billion this year.
Tentative proposals for the 2018 budget year that begins Oct. 1 are being sent to agencies, which will have a chance to propose changes to the cuts as part of a longstanding tradition at the budget office.
Trump’s budget, once finalized and sent to Congress in mid-March, is sure to set off a huge Washington battle.
California’s Barbara Lee was one of the first to attack the plan.
“President Trump’s morally bankrupt budget will be a disaster for working families. With 46 million Americans living in poverty, we simply cannot afford a rigged budget that funnels more money to the Pentagon at the expense of students, families and our planet,” Lee said in a statement. “Sadly, the Trump Administration would rather fund endless wars and line the pockets of billionaires than help American families get ahead.”
“Let me be clear: this budget was written for defense contractors, polluters and special interests. It will gut lifesaving safety net programs and environmental protections while offering massive handouts to the military-industrial complex. Hardworking families deserve a budget – and a federal government – that fights for them. I urge my colleagues to reject this cruel agenda and insist on a fair budget that tackles unchecked war spending and invests in our communities.”
Even the most moderate of military analysts point to major problem with equipment, plane which won’t fly and necessary updates to the Naval fleet. Read more HERE.
The Washington Post’s Michael Linden attacked the President as a “snake-oil salesman”: “Trump will argue — as good snake-oil salesmen do — that picking your pockets is good for you. You can be sure he will try to sell you on the idea that enormous tax cuts for the wealthy will boost the economy for everyone.”
Linden attacked the Bush tax cuts (which were for all Americans and were credited with massive increases in revenue), followed by attacking Trump’s wealth, tax returns not being released and then Republicans in general: “this is the same scam that Republicans in Congress have been running for six years. Their budgets always contained the same basic tricks and sleights of hand, and they did seem to get away with it. It’s no wonder that Trump’s White House is trying the same thing. But, hopefully, Trump will find that the American people aren’t so willing to tolerate the same kind of budgetary double-cross coming from the president of the United States.”