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Trump to propose $54B increase in defense spending

By Andrew V. Pestano
President Donald Trump, seen here speaking at the National Governors Association meeting in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, proposed a $54 billion icrease in defense and security spending, which will be offset by cuts in other federal agencies. Pool Photo by Aude Guerrucci/UPI
President Donald Trump, seen here speaking at the National Governors Association meeting in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, proposed a $54 billion icrease in defense and security spending, which will be offset by cuts in other federal agencies. Pool Photo by Aude Guerrucci/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 27 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump will release an initial budget proposal calling for a $54 billion increase in defense and security spending that will be offset by cuts to other federal agencies, the Office of Management and Budget told reporters Monday.

While the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security will receive a boost, other departments such as the U.S. Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency face cuts, anonymous OMB officials said in a telephone call with reporters. Trump is expected to release his final budget proposal in mid-March.

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"We're going to do more with less," Trump said Monday of his "historic increase in defense spending to rebuild the depleted military."

Trump's proposal would increase federal spending for the military, local law enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The proposal represents a 10 percent increase to the Pentagon's budget. A Trump administration official said the budget will not make significant changes to Social Security or Medicare.

"This budget follows through on my promise of keeping America safe, keeping out terrorists, keeping out criminals and putting violent offenders behind bars or removing them from our country altogether," Trump said. "We will be substantially upgrading all of our military, all of our military, offensive, defensive, everything, bigger and better and stronger than ever before."

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Trump's administration has not yet detailed how much money it will ask Congress to spend in total or where the cuts would occur.

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