U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged that the country’s defense budget will reach $1 trillion for the first time in history, setting a new record. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated that the upcoming budget would be “around” $1 trillion.
“We are very careful with spending, but the armed forces are something we must build, and we need to be strong because there are many bad forces out there now,” Trump said.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth also weighed in, writing on X that Trump is “restoring our military – and quickly.” He added, “The first $1 trillion Pentagon budget is coming soon.”
Hegseth, a strong supporter of efforts to cut spending led by Elon Musk’s Government Efficiency Department, oversees a Pentagon budget of $850 billion per year and a workforce of around 2 million employees, making it the largest government agency.
In February, Hegseth ordered an 8% cut to some Pentagon expenses, with those funds redirected to higher-priority programs such as missile defense. Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during President Joe Biden’s administration, had also recommended increasing defense spending to reach $1 trillion.
