The Pentagon on Tuesday provided more details about the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal 2027, with officials calling it “a generational investment” in the U.S. military.
Acting Defense Department comptroller Jules W. Hurst said it would be a 42% increase over last year’s amount. During a Pentagon briefing, he said it would “supercharge our defense industrial base” by expanding production of major weapon systems and strengthening supply chains.
“It secures our homeland and military advantage through investments in the Golden Dome missile defense system, drone dominance and space superiority,” he said. “It ensures our military readiness by funding next-generation platforms like the F-47 [stealth fighter] and B-21 [stealth bomber], modernizing our nuclear deterrent and delivering our commitment to our service members by putting forward the money to provide them with world-class housing and pay.”
Mr. Hurst said more than half the budget will go toward buying more weapons systems like munitions, planes, tanks and ships.
“The investment will drive job creation,” he said. “It can generate over 800,000 American jobs, many in manufacturing and engineering.”
The budget also funds a $5.8 billion pay raise for military personnel, with the largest jump, 7%, aimed at the most junior troops, E-5 and below. Senior enlisted personnel and junior officers would get a 6% increase, while 0-4 level officers — majors and lieutenant commanders — and above would see a 5% bump in pay.
