Trump Proposes Significant Budget Reductions, Leaving Defense and Border Funding Intact
Updated: May 3, 2025, 3:21 PM CDT
President Trump ain't messin' 'round, intendin' to slash non-defense discretionary spending by a whopping $163 billion in his 2026 fiscal year budget proposal. Nicknamed the "skinny budget," this puppy outlines what the White House dreams Congress does once they determine the government's spending.
This budget ain't a safety net like Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. The administration's full budget, with all the bells and whistles, will be revealed in the coming months.
The cuts represent a hefty 22.6% reduction of projected spending from the current fiscal year, but there's some revenue on the horizon for defense and border security.
Target Practice
Some of the biggest bullseyes are on funds for foreign aid, climate projects, and anything considered a promoter of what the Trump administration calls "wokeism." The plan comes on the heels of the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, already making deep cuts in federal agency spending and staff.
"We're in bed with DOGE," a senior White House official told reporters in a conference call, keeping their identity hidden. The budget proposes over 50% cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). It also aims to shave $2.5 billion off the Internal Revenue Service.
Education funding takes a hit with a 15% decrease, but Head Start funding for early childcare is saved from the chopping block.
The blueprint also calls for the elimination of several government agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and AmeriCorps.
Defense spending is up by 13%, and border security at the Department of Homeland Security sees a 65% jump. Congress ain't obligated to follow the president's wishes, but this budget could serve as a map for where DOGE's gonna head in the coming year.
Presidential Budgets: Wish Lists with Numbers
The president is constitutionally required to send lawmakers a budget proposal annually. This ain't a contract - it's more of a list of the president's priorities, complete with price tags. That means Congress don't gotta abide by what the president wants, even though Trump's got Republican majorities in both houses.
"Nearly all of these cuts are dead on arrival in Congress," said Jessica Riedl, a budget expert at the Manhattan Institute. Some GOP representatives might not embrace the budget, but they've been supportive of DOGE's drastic spending changes.
The White House isn't ruling out "impoundment," a potential move to overrule Congress' spending decisions by arguing that a 1974 law requiring presidents to spend money as Congress directs is unconstitutional.
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- The proposed budget by President Trump for the 2026 fiscal year aims to reduce non-defense discretionary spending by $163 billion, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) facing over 50% cuts.
- The budget targets funds for foreign aid, climate projects, and anything promoting "wokeism," while education sees a 15% decrease. However, Head Start funding for early childcare is saved.
- Defense spending is set to increase by 13%, and border security at the Department of Homeland Security sees a 65% jump.
- The blueprint calls for the elimination of several government agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and AmeriCorps.
- The President is constitutionally required to send a budget proposal annually, which serves as a list of priorities with price tags, but Congress is not obligated to follow the president's wishes.
- The White House is not ruling out the possibility of "impoundment," a potential move to override Congress' spending decisions by arguing that the 1974 law requiring presidents to spend money as Congress directs is unconstitutional.
