U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has proposed a plan to the government under which the country’s military spending could exceed $1 trillion in the 2028 fiscal year.
This was reported by Bloomberg, citing a letter from Austin addressed to the White House Office of Management and Budget. In the letter dated November 27, Austin suggested providing the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump with a five-year plan to increase defense spending. According to the document, the Pentagon’s budget could reach $926.5 billion by 2026, $50 billion more than the previously projected $876.8 billion. In subsequent years, expenditures are expected to rise: $972.8 billion in 2027 and surpass $1 trillion in 2028, exceeding earlier forecasts of $913.5 billion.
Austin emphasized that the proposed spending does not include funding for military aid to Ukraine and Israel, which, in his view, should be covered through additional appropriations. It also excludes funds for replacing weapons supplied to these countries.
While the letter does not provide specific justifications for the spending increase, Bloomberg highlights that it is tied to the implementation of the National Defense Strategy, aimed at deterring China and strengthening international alliances.
