Hegseth Seeks $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget, Up More Than 40%

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 13

$1.5 trillion is the Pentagon funding level Pete Hegseth has asked Congress to approve, marking a more than 40% jump from last year’s budget.
The request largely avoids the trade-offs typical of military budgets, keeping spending broad rather than cutting weapons programs, maintenance or force levels to stay within limits.
$350 billion of the total would come with less oversight and accountability than the rest of the package, while the plan also directs more money to traditional defense contractors.
$29 billion is the Pentagon’s latest estimate for the Iran war so far, up from $25 billion weeks earlier, adding to concerns about how much the overall bill could grow.

Can the strained defense industry effectively absorb a $1.5 trillion budget, or will it lead to unprecedented waste?

As national debt hits $39 trillion, what is the true economic price of securing America through massive military spending?

How will America's historic military buildup reshape global alliances and the strategic competition with peer adversaries?