Pentagon seeks record $1.5 trillion budget amid mounting global threats
The president and the defense secretary are urging Congress to approve a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget to address new security challenges.
In a plea to Congress, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are requesting a $1.5 trillion budget for the Department of Defense, the largest in history. The request comes as U.S. missile inventories have been drained by aid to Ukraine and Israel and by a direct conflict with Iran. A July analysis from the International Institute for Strategic Studies highlights a rise in Russian drone incursions across more than a dozen NATO airspaces, testing alliance readiness.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to develop missile capabilities, reportedly with covert Russian assistance, and China has signaled possible forceful action against Taiwan. The piece warns that these converging threats expose U.S. weakness and urges lawmakers to fund the Pentagon adequately to deter adversaries.
Why it matters
Insufficient defense funding could limit U.S. ability to respond to multiple rising security threats worldwide.
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