Trump Commits to $750 Billion U.S. Defense Budget a Week After Saying $717 Billion Is ‘Crazy’
December 11th, 2018Drain the swamp. Mmm hmm.
Via: Independent:
President Donald Trump has backtracked on his proposal to shrink military spending, instead agreeing to Defence Secretary Jim Mattis’ request for a $750 billion budget for the upcoming 2019 fiscal year.
Last week, Mr Trump tweeted that a $716 billion Defence Department budget is “crazy.”
The following day, Mr Mattis, Texas Representative Mac Thornberry and Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe—both Republicans and chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, respectively—met with Mr Trump to discuss the need and justifications for an increase to military spending.
The three Republicans all oppose the White House’s initial budget plan for $700 billion, which were part of the Trump administration’s plan to cut five per cent of budget spending on all federal agencies. The proposed budget cut would have reduced the $716 billion allocated funding in 2019 to $700 billion in 2020, a stark contrast to the Pentagon’s proffered $733 billion budget for 2020.
Following the meeting, Mr Trump reversed his positions supporting Defence budget cuts and agreed to the $750 billion budget request. The new proposed budget is about a $20 billion increase from the $733 billion budget proposal Pentagon officials initially proposed.
