Trump's 2021 budget gives 55% to the military

Pie chart showing Trump discretionary budget proposal for 2021 with 55% military and 45% nonmilitary

The president's 2021 budget proposal, delivered today, would put 55% of the $1.3 trillion discretionary budget toward the military. By 2030, that proportion would increase to 62% military, primarily through ongoing reductions in domestic spending.

The president's proposal calls for a 5% reduction in non-military discretionary spending, a reduction of $31 billion compared to last year. That overall increase masks the fact that other militarized spending, including the Department of Homeland Security, would see increases under the president's budget, while other major agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Community Development, would see reductions. Each of the president's prior three budget proposals called for similar patterns of investment in militarization, and disinvestment in everything else. 

In calling for the 5% reduction in non-military spending, the president's proposal disregards legislation Congress passed last year that set spending levels for military and non-military spending for 2021. Congress is unlikely to pass the president's proposal as is, but parts of the president's proposal may influence budget legislation expected later this year.

Read our statement here.