Trump to propose 10 percent spike in defense spending, massive cuts to other agencies

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Trump to propose 10 percent spike in defense spending, massive cuts to other agencies

By Abby Phillip and Kelsey Snell February 27 at 11:15 AM

President Trump will propose a federal budget that dramatically increases defense-related spending by $54 billion while cutting other federal agencies by the same amount, according to an administration official.

The proposal represents a massive increase in federal spending related to national security, while other priorities, especially foreign aid, will see significant reductions.

According to the White House, the defense budget will increase by 10 percent. But without providing any specifics, the administration said that most other discretionary spending programs will be slashed to pay for it. Officials singled out foreign aid, one of the smallest parts of the federal budget, saying it would see “large reductions” in spending.

It is the first indication of spending priorities by the new administration, with the president set to arrive on Capitol Hill on Tuesday night for a joint-session speech to Congress. But the full budget negotiations between Trump and Congress will not be complete for many months.

In a statement at the White House on Monday morning, Trump said that his budget would put “America first” by focusing on defense, law enforcement and veterans using money previously spent abroad.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/trump-to-propose-10-percent-spike-in-defense-spending-massive-cuts-to-other-agencies/2017/02/27/867f9690-fcf2-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html?utm_term=.0f793806272b

[putitinD]

1. or maybe we should cut military spending in half and fix some of the real problems that we

have.

[JaneQPublic]

2. It's a multi-billion dollar bouquet of cash to his CEO buddies...

...at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE, etc. etc.

Didn't he say repeatedly during the campaigns that he was against launching any new ground wars? Then the only purpose of a huge buildup of military hardware is to transfer more Federal dollars into corporate hands.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. The known goal, admitted goal of Bannon is to end the federal government entirely

other than defense.

Entirely.

And your neighbor and cousin voted for this and based on what I am reading in polls and elsewhere they are thrilled with what is happening.

Soon a head of lettuce will be $9 and a single tomato $6 (i hope anyway, as it is the only way to get thru to the racists).

We didnt know that almost half of this country were like Nazi's from the 1930's, but sure as shit ,they are.

Not good.

[Progressive dog]

4. He just intends to lie about the budget anyway

he will probably classify it. Somebody told him that President Obama did it first and anyway his huge victory makes him exempt from any laws.

[mchill]

5. Since 1992

My "discretionary" agency has taken hit after hit in the budget. Downsizings, reorganizations, buyouts, to the point the agency can no longer complete it's mission (think environmental degradation). I'm retired for last 4 years (the last big cut took place then) and there are only 2 full time employees left from nearly 15 fulltimers 20 years ago. Those two just manage with what little budget they get to complete a few projects, but certainly not even miniimal maintenance of even the building they work in. Now another 10% cut? It's laughable.

[CrispyQ]

6. My BIL voted for Trump.

"People want change," he said. Well, you're going to get it.

A lot of people think a stronger military makes us stronger. Strong communities make us stronger, but the right's idea of community is extremely exclusive - people who look & think like they do. The rest of us are outsiders - not really Americans. I think it's that arrogance that galls me the most - that they are the only true Americans.

[Botany]

7. Because the United States doesn't spend enough now.

Rank Country Spending($ Bn.)
1 United States 597.5
2 China 145.8
3 Saudi Arabia 81.9
4 Russia Russia 65.6
5 United Kingdom 56.2
6 India 48.0
7 France 46.8
8 Japan 41.0
9 Germany 36.7
10 South Korea 33.5
11 Brazil 24.3
12 Australia 22.8
13 Italy 21.6
14 Iraq 21.1
15 Israel 18.6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

We spend as much as all the top 13 nations combined .... nine of which are allies
BTW I did not count Saudi Arabia as an ally too

[BeyondGeography]

8. Yes, but even with the increase we STILL won't be spending 10x more than Russia

[unblock]

9. so he wants to spend 10% more while backing away from international commitments?

and making other countries pay for us to "defend" them?

and after cutting costs on military hardware by making things on the cheap?

[VMA131Marine]

10. Guess which country is the largest recipient of foreign aid

The US foreign aid budget was about $50B in 2016:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/26/the-u-s-foreign-aid-budget-visualized/?utm_term=.f946e94c9614|

To summarize the linked article:

Foreign aid is about 1.25% of the total Federal Budget ($4.1T)

$18B goes to economic and development assistance
$8.1B for security assistance
$23.9B is not categorized

Of the economic and development assistance, the largest amounts go to Afghanistan ($1B), Pakistan ($422M), Jordan($632M) and developing nations in Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia - about $0.5B each). Most of the money for Africa goes to HIV/AIDS treatment and research.

Of the security assistance, the largest single amount goes to Israel ($3.8B) followed by Egypt ($1.3B), Jordan($368M), Pakistan($320M), and Afghanistan ($223M). This assistance comes with a big catch: it has to be spent on US defense contracts, so eliminating it could reduce the sales of the US defense industry by $8.1B per year or more. It is therefore difficult to see this assistance going away.