President Donald Trump’s plan to boost defense spending 50% to $1.5 trillion has reportedly run into some resistance, including fears about adding to the $38.5 trillion mountain of U.S. debt.
Sources told The Washington Post that White House budget chief Russell Vought was among the critics of giving the Pentagon an additional $500 billion, warning on its potential impact on the federal deficit, which hit $1.8 trillion in the last fiscal year.
A longtime fiscal hawk, Vought has been an advocate of reducing overall government spending while also rebuilding the U.S. military, the report said.
The White House did not provide a comment. A defense spokesman told the Post that the Pentagon is committed to “utilizing President Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense budget to serve our warfighters and the American people.”
“Our deliberative and responsible budget process ensures the Department is a good steward of taxpayer resources and able to combat 21st century threats,” he added.
