White House Budget Delayed After $500 Billion Pentagon Boost Leaves Aides Scrambling

Overview

• President Trump last month approved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s request for a roughly 50% increase in military spending, reported to total about $500 billion.
• The White House is more than two weeks past the Feb. 2 statutory deadline to submit its budget, with officials still working to finalize the proposal.
• Unnamed aides and defense officials describe logistical challenges in deciding where to place the funds, prompting consultations with former senior Pentagon leaders.
• Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought raised concerns about the impact on the federal deficit, according to accounts of internal deliberations.
• Analysts note the proposed jump to about $1.5 trillion in FY2027 diverges from recent defense guidance, while watchdogs cite transparency gaps and failed audits as risks for waste.