U.S. 'Blue Tsunami' Puts Trump's $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget on 'Red Alert'

Democrats Oppose Proposed Increase in FY2027 Defense Budget
"No Need for a Budget Exceeding $1 Trillion"

With Democrats set to take control of Congress after the midterm elections, a plan backed by U.S. President Donald Trump to increase the defense budget by $1.5 trillion (approximately 2,100 trillion won) is expected to face obstacles. Negative public opinion over the war with Iran contributed to the Republicans’ election defeat, and as Democrats oppose a major increase in defense spending, key defense programs of the Trump Administration are increasingly likely to face delays.

According to Bloomberg News on November 8, Democrats have made clear their intention to block the Trump Administration’s proposed increase in the fiscal 2027 defense budget since securing majorities in both the House and Senate in the midterm elections on November 3.

The fiscal 2027 defense budget requested by the Trump Administration from Congress totals $1.5 trillion, a 44% increase from the previous year and the largest ever. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has argued that investment in defense modernization must be significantly expanded to keep pace with advances in cutting-edge military technologies, including autonomous weapons systems.

Democrats, however, say it is inappropriate to sharply increase the defense budget while enormous sums are being spent on the war with Iran. They are particularly opposed to proposals to cut funding for major domestic welfare and public programs to pay for the increase in defense spending.

In a statement after the election, Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, who has been designated as the next chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "We need a more realistic and sustainable approach to national security," adding, "There is no need for a defense budget exceeding $1 trillion or for funding it through severe cuts to core domestic programs."

Democrats are reportedly considering capping the defense budget at around $1 trillion. Citing a person familiar with the discussions, Bloomberg reported that Democrats want to provide the Defense Department with the funding needed for essential modernization programs while avoiding criticism that they approved a budget that supports the continuation of the war with Iran.

As a result, major defense programs pursued by President Trump are also expected to be affected. They include the Golden Dome, a next-generation missile defense system intended to protect the U.S. mainland, and the Trump-class battleship program, which would require substantial construction costs. The growing possibility of cuts to the defense budget is also increasing uncertainty about the outlook for defense contractors.

It will also be difficult for Republicans to pass the defense budget over Democratic opposition. Although Republicans will retain their congressional majority until the new Congress convenes in January 2027, worsening public opinion over the war with Iran and the midterm election defeat have weakened the political impetus within the party to push through a major increase in defense spending.

The budget deadline is also fast approaching. The U.S. fiscal 2027 began on October 1, but the Defense Department is currently operating under a continuing resolution that runs through December 11. Congress must pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and defense appropriations bill, but negotiations are expected to face difficulties given the wide gap between the parties.

Defense budget experts also appear to believe that the Trump Administration’s request is unlikely to be approved in full. In a report published on November 4, Travis Sharp, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), said, "The final budget passed by Congress is likely to fall short of the Trump Administration’s proposal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.