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yesterday

Pentagon Unveils $961 Billion Defense Budget Emphasizing Drones, Missiles

The White House proposal pairs an $848.3 billion base budget with a $113 billion reconciliation boost to refocus resources on emerging warfare technologies

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US Pentagon Washington DC seen from above
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Overview

  • The Pentagon's fiscal year 2026 request combines an $848.3 billion discretionary base with $113 billion in one-time reconciliation funds for a total of $961 billion in Defense Department outlays.
  • Funding shifts toward drones and long-range strike systems include increased investment in JASSM-ER, LRASM and tactical unmanned aircraft, while procurement of F-35 jets falls to 47 in fiscal 2026.
  • The reconciliation bill allocates $25 billion for the Golden Dome missile defense initiative and lifts the Space Force budget to nearly $40 billion, marking its largest year-over-year increase.
  • The budget cuts 7,286 Navy civilian positions, defers new warship acquisitions to separate appropriations and cancels the E-7 Wedgetail radar program.
  • Senior officials have no fallback plan if Congress fails to approve the standalone 'One Big, Beautiful Bill,' spotlighting the risks of relying on reconciliation to bypass Senate filibuster rules.