‘We’re fighting wars, we can’t take care of daycare’: Trump

• By Al Mayadeen English
• Source: Axios
• Today 01:19

US Donald Trump’s proposed budget ramps up military spending amid the war on Iran while slashing domestic programs, raising concerns over economic priorities and public backlash.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled a new federal budget proposal that significantly expands military spending while imposing deep cuts on domestic programs, reflecting a shift toward a war-focused economic agenda.

The proposed budget allocates $1.5 trillion to the Pentagon, alongside an additional $200 billion earmarked for costs related to the war on Iran, as Trump faces declining approval ratings and rising fuel prices.

War drains resources

The sharp increase in military spending comes as the United States remains engaged in a war on Iran that has driven up costs and placed a growing strain on financial and military resources. The war cost Washington more than $11 billion in its first six days alone, with estimates placing daily expenditures at between $1 billion and $2 billion, while munitions stockpiles have been drawn down significantly, raising concerns about sustainability and replenishment.

The scale of the war has also prompted the Pentagon to seek more than $200 billion in additional funding and pushed defense officials to accelerate weapons production, as high-end systems are being consumed faster than they can be replaced. The proposed increase also aligns with a broader military buildup that includes investments in missile systems, naval assets, and advanced fighter jets, signaling preparations that extend beyond immediate battlefield needs.

Against this backdrop, the proposed budget reflects a broader reallocation of resources toward sustaining prolonged military operations, while partially offsetting rising military expenditures through cuts to domestic spending. The shift also comes as rising war-related expenditures add to fiscal pressures, with analysts warning that sustained military operations could further strain US public finances and contribute to broader economic uncertainty.

Domestic programs face major cuts

To fund the surge in military expenditure, the administration proposes a 10% reduction in non-military spending, equivalent to $73 billion, affecting sectors such as public health, education, housing, and scientific research.

Among the most significant cuts:

• Environmental Protection Agency: -52%
• National Science Foundation: -55%
• Small Business Administration: -67%

In contrast, the Justice Department would see a 13% increase to expand law enforcement capabilities.

‘We’re fighting wars’

During a closed-door Easter event that was briefly livestreamed, Trump outlined the administration’s priorities, stating: “We’re fighting wars… We can’t take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare… We have to take care of one thing: military protection.”

He added that individual states may need to shoulder the burden of funding social programs through higher taxes.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told Axios that they are “looking at fraud and waste and abuse,” but other proposals under discussion include reducing Affordable Care Act subsidies and other spending that could leave hundreds of thousands without coverage while increasing premium costs, and saving the government over $30 billion.

The effort increases pressure within the GOP to finance the war on Iran and ICE, even as it risks political backlash over prioritizing military spending over healthcare access.

Political risks and internal tensions

The budget reflects a broader strategic vision centered on sustained US military aggression, with spending projected to rise by 42%, a pace exceeding that of the Reagan era and approaching levels seen before World War II.

The proposal raises concerns that working-class Americans, who once voted for Trump believing he would “end forever wars”, will bear the cost of war through reduced social services.

The administration has justified the cuts by citing “fraud, waste, and abuse,” with Trump appointing Vice President JD Vance as a “Fraud Czar” tasked with targeting alleged misuse of funds, particularly in Democrat-led states. However, similar claims in the past, such as those associated with initiatives backed by Elon Musk, have faced criticism for overstating potential savings.

The proposal underscores a growing contradiction between expanding US military engagement abroad and tightening domestic spending, at a time when public support for the war on Iran remains low.