Overview
- The proposal is not law and will require congressional approval, with the enacted FY2026 defense baseline about $901 billion plus a $150 billion supplemental.
- Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers, who chair the Armed Services committees, endorsed the target as a way to rebuild U.S. military strength and counter China.
- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates roughly $5 trillion in additional defense outlays from 2027 to 2035 and about $5.8 trillion added to the national debt including interest.
- The Congressional Budget Office has estimated current tariffs could raise $2.5 trillion to $3 trillion, which falls short of covering sustained spending at the proposed level.
- Analysts warn the expansion could strain the defense industrial base and fuel an arms race, particularly with China and across the Indo‑Pacific.