Trump's USD1.5T Defense Budget Is 'Rotten to the Core,' Schumer Says

(MENAFN) US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer came out swinging Friday against President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget, pledging that Democrats would stop it in its tracks.

“A budget is like an X-ray: it shows what’s really going on inside,” Schumer said in a statement. “Donald Trump’s budget is rotten to the core, and Democrats will make sure it never passes.”

The broadside followed Trump’s unveiling of a record $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal year 2027 — the largest in US history. Budget fact sheets released by the White House outline $1.15 trillion in discretionary defense spending and a further $350 billion in mandatory resources. Simultaneously, the administration is pursuing a 10% cut to discretionary non-defense spending, amounting to roughly $73 billion.

Schumer drew a sharp contrast between the “record-breaking” military allocation and proposed reductions to energy, housing, and education programs. He also trained his fire on the administration’s broader economic stewardship, arguing its policies have driven up costs for groceries, gas, housing, and health care.

“Trump’s budget has one message for the Americans struggling with skyrocketing costs: he doesn’t care,” the Democrat said.

The Senate minority leader signaled unified party opposition and warned Republicans of potential political consequences for backing the plan. “Democrats will fight this budget tooth and nail to ensure it never becomes law,” Schumer said.

The budget battle unfolds as Trump grapples with sliding approval ratings amid the now second-month-old US war on Iran and widespread public frustration over price increases — a particularly damaging backdrop given his campaign pledge to lower costs “on day one.”

Senior Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, added his voice to the chorus of opposition, delivering a pointed rebuke of the proposal.

“This is not a serious budget. From what little information we have, this flawed, irresponsible proposal is unjustified and fails to acknowledge the negative impacts of Trump’s Iran war and faltering economy,” Reed said in a statement.

Reed also raised the alarm over the prospect of supplemental emergency funding requests tied to ongoing military operations, warning that actual defense expenditures could climb well beyond the submitted figures.

Pledging bipartisan collaboration, Reed drew a firm line against unconditional approval. “I will not rubber-stamp a bloated, undisciplined budget,” he said. “I will work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to carefully scrutinize every penny.”

MENAFN04042026000045017169ID1110941998