Pete Hegseth’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget request is DOA after Democrats swept midterms, but global defense spending could still hit $8 trillion
A proposed $1.5 trillion budget for the Pentagon in 2027 has been deemed too high by Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Smith wants a smaller military budget and an investigation into the Pentagon's dealings with defense contractors. The current global defense spending is projected to exceed $8 trillion, making up 2.0% of the GDP among the G7 countries.
The U.S. accounts for around one-third of this spending, reaching $1 trillion in fiscal 2026. Europe's defense spending has increased to €418 billion ($461 billion) in 2025 and is expected to rise to €454 billion ($500 billion) this year. This increase is attributed to ongoing conflicts and a shift in view towards security. The U.S. is expected to face increased scrutiny on its military budget due to the Democrats gaining control of both the House and Senate.
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