White House proposes $163B cuts in federal budget, increase in defense spending
The White House has released its proposed FY2026 budget Friday – which calls for $163 billion in cuts to federal spending, according to a letter that OMB Director Russell Vought sent to Congress alongside the proposal.
Many of those cuts will come from agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, USAID and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others. But there are plans to increase funding in some areas – primarily for defense and border security.
"The President is proposing base non-defense discretionary budget authority $163 billion-22.6% below current year spending, while still protecting funding for homeland security, veterans, seniors, law enforcement, and infrastructure," Vought said in a letter about the proposal.
The budget proposal from the White House is basically a wish list, but it does serve to illustrate the administration's priorities and what the White House hopes is a jumping off point for negotiations with Congress.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart







