The White House boasted that this defense funding approaches the "historic increases just prior to World War II". The 2027 budget request did not grapple with the most expensive part of mandatory federal spending - Social Security retirement and Medicare health spending for senior citizens - where suggesting cuts is considered politically perilous. "Fiscal futility is ending," White House budget director Russell Vought said in a letter to Congress, adding, "Our fiscal ship has turned to face in the right direction". Lawmakers on Capitol Hill often treat White House budget requests as suggestive, as appropriators try to negotiate behind the scenes to maintain their own legislative priorities. The budget is "light on details and heavy on borrowing," Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said in a statement.

Source: Stuff April 06, 2026 01:28 UTC