On Friday morning, the White House formally requested a record-breaking $1.5 trillion defense budget from Congress, representing an increase of over 40% compared to the previous fiscal year, while significantly cutting domestic programs. However, Trump will face considerable resistance within his own party in pushing this plan forward. Many Republicans are concerned about substantially increasing defense spending ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, especially as voters begin to feel the economic impact of a potential war with Iran, and Democrats may use this issue as a campaign talking point. Trump's budget proposal requires Republicans to utilize the reconciliation process to bypass the Senate filibuster and abandon bipartisan negotiations, thereby passing approximately $350 billion worth of his defense funding through this expedited method. Republican congressional leaders have already begun accepting the approach of increasing Pentagon funding and immigration enforcement budgets—even amid a government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security—by excluding Democrats entirely. But this strategy would require nearly all Republican lawmakers in both chambers to vote in favor. Trump must simultaneously convince fiscal hawk Republicans who are reluctant to fund overseas wars, as well as moderate Republicans who oppose raising military spending while cutting domestic programs.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861513930744842/
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