APRIL 22, 2026 – The Department of War (DoW) today released President Donald J. Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Defense Budget, which asks for a generational investment of $1.5 trillion to unleash the American Arsenal of Freedom, marking a 42% increase over current funding levels.
“We are delivering on President Trump’s commitment to expand American military dominance for decades to come,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. “Previous Administrations underinvested in our military while our enemies grew stronger and more dangerous, so we are now changing the game. This budget builds this arsenal without compromising readiness that will ensure we remain the world’s premier fighting force, we protect the homeland, and we create peace through strength now and into the future.”
In the midst of one of the most complex threat environments in this nation’s 250-year history, the President’s historic FY27 Budget ensures we will be prepared to meet our adversaries across the air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace domains. It will also rebuild and expand our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) with a $756.8 billion investments in new capabilities, delivering the innovation and lethality our warfighters need, while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans. It fully funds the Golden Dome to protect the homeland, invests in our critical minerals and munitions, and provides a pay raise for military personnel. At the same time, DoW cut nearly $20B in unnecessary spending and invested that money back in the warfighter.
Key Highlights:
Supercharging America’s Industrial Base
As the successor to the generational Reagan-era military build-up, over half ($756.8B) of the DoW’s budget is allocated to investments in new capabilities. This will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, unlock new capacity and credit, and massively increase the number of major defense articles we purchase. It will also make critical investments in our supply chains and in the tens of thousands of small and medium-sized American businesses that make up the heart of our industrial base.
Securing the Homeland
This budget makes an $18 billion investment to begin operationalizing America’s Golden Dome, the next-generation shield over the homeland. This will be a game-changing system of space-based missile defense sensors and interceptors, kinetic and non-kinetic missile defeat and defense capabilities, and enabling technologies for a layered, next-generation homeland missile defense system. It also includes $2.3 billion to sustain enhanced border security efforts in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to maintain the most secure border in American history.
Ensuring America’s Readiness
This budget will invest an additional $31.7B in Core Readiness and Readiness Enablers, over FY 2026 enacted levels for areas such as cyber security, ship operations, flying hours, and ground readiness.
This budget also makes key investments in future advanced platforms like the F-47 and B-21, accelerates the modernization of our nuclear arsenals to reinforce deterrence, and delivers on promises to our warfighters and their families by putting forward the money necessary to provide them with world-class housing and pay that is in line with the quality of their service. It will also increase end strength by over 2% in FY27, which includes an increase for the active components of over 3%, growing the force by 44,000 service members. This growth will provide the manpower we need to employ new and expanded capabilities.
Drone Dominance
Delivering over a $74B investment, President Trump’s request triples how much we will spend on drone and counter-drone technologies from FY26. This marks the largest investment ever in this sector.
Maritime Dominance
A strong Navy has always been the backbone of American power projection and control of the seas has meant the difference between victory and vulnerability in every conflict. With the $65.8 billion invested in shipbuilding, we will ensure America’s naval superiority for decades to come with aggressive shipyard modernization and creation of the Golden Fleet, including the funding for 18 new Battle Force Ships, the largest request since 1962.
Space Superiority
The request nearly doubles the budget for the United States Space Force, investing more than $75B to ensure American space superiority. This investment prioritizes America’s vital national and economic security interests in, from, and to space.
Cyber Superiority
With more than $20 billion invested in our cyberspace capabilities, we will be better positioned than ever to defend federal systems, critical infrastructure, and supply chains, all while building robust cyber operations.
The Department’s Budget Materials can be found here: https://comptroller.war.gov/Budget-Materials/