US Politics 2026

[Jamie in Chile]

Just seen the news of (warning: this is depressing, option to close this thread now is available!)

The White House asked Congress on Friday to approve about $1.5 trillion for defense in the 2027 fiscal year. If enacted, that amount would set military spending at its highest level in modern history.

The request, which arrived as part of President Trump’s new budget, would amount to a roughly 40 percent increase from what the United States spent on the Pentagon this fiscal year.

The administration coupled the proposal with a call for $73 billion in cuts spread across many domestic agencies, including the elimination of key federal health, housing and education programs, some of which serve minority groups and the poor.

The White House asked Congress on Friday to slash domestic spending by about 10 percent, targeting core government services, including money meant to respond to natural disasters, train new teachers, root out tax fraud, research cures for diseases and develop clean energy technology.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/white-house-defense-budget.html

 

[Jamie in Chile]

The US already spends more than triple any other country on military

Russia is at $100-$200 billion per year and China at $300 billion.

List of countries with highest military expenditures - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I think the US could afford to reduce its military expenditure hugely. I would spend about $300 billion a year I think, about the same as China, and a third of what is spent today, or about 1% of GDP. I would pay for some semiconductor factories in the US with some of the savings incase Taiwan is invaded. No-one is really threatening the US - at least not the 50 states - maybe some military base miles away.

If the US population is about 333 million, and the military spending is $1 trillion, I make that $3,000 per year for every man woman and child. So anyone earning at or above average salary is paying more than that.

The US doesn't need to be in the middle East or support Israel, I would just stay out of it. I would also reduce spending (and personnel) in Europe, South Korea and Japan steadily over time, with those countries building up their own defence.

Sadly even if the US does what I say and cuts military spending by over half, that doesn't free up any dollars. The government would still spend more each year than it collects. All you do is take a big chunk out of that budget deficit.

I had a quick chat with a couple of the AIs and to be fair they suggested they cutting the military budget is not a real saving if global trade is restricted by wars and shipping not moving as freely. I don't think I buy that though.