President Donald Trump released details of his $892.6 billion defense budget proposal Wednesday, revealing a strategic shift toward small drones and advanced missiles while cutting purchases of F-35 fighter jets and Navy ships.
The fiscal 2026 request keeps defense spending flat compared to this year but reallocates funds to reflect lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict, where unmanned systems proved cost-effective in combat. The budget seeks only 47 F-35 jets—down from the 68 requested in President Biden's final budget—and just three new warships.
The budget increases spending on small drones, which Trump administration officials say have demonstrated their value as "low-cost, yet highly effective" weapons in Ukraine1. The Pentagon also continues investing in long-range missiles, including the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile and Long Range Anti-Ship missile, both designed for potential Pacific conflicts12.
Trump's plan includes a 3.8% pay raise for military personnel but cuts costs by retiring older ships and aircraft that are expensive to operate1. The Navy will reduce its civilian workforce by 7,286 people under the proposal, according to budget documents23.
The White House said the budget aims to "deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific" and revitalize the defense industrial base12. The emphasis on long-range weapons reflects Pentagon planning for potential conflicts across the vast distances of the Pacific Ocean.
Most funding for Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative was included in separate legislation and does not appear in this budget request1. The Air Force continues reducing its request for Precision Strike Missiles, which would replace the Army Tactical Missiles used extensively in Ukraine12.
The House Appropriations Committee's Defense subcommittee has already drafted legislation boosting F-35 purchases to 69 aircraft—one more than Biden's 2025 request—signaling potential congressional resistance to Trump's cuts12.
"This budget provides that level while ensuring that only Republican-votes are needed by using reconciliation to secure those increases without Democrats insisting on increasing wasteful government," Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought posted on social media, referring to Trump's broader $1 trillion defense spending goal that requires additional congressional action3.
The proposal marks a departure from traditional Pentagon priorities, emphasizing quantity over high-cost platforms in preparing for potential conflicts with China.
