Source: In These Times
by Stephen Semler
“The idea of a $1 trillion Pentagon budget was hyperbole just a few years ago. It became reality a few days ago, once Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The sweeping legislation adds $156 billion in military spending on top of the $899 billion already approved for 2025. This year’s military budget now stands at … $1,055,270,000,000. It’s a watershed moment, and not a particularly proud one for the nation, especially considering that the same bill pushing annual military spending over the $1 trillion mark also cuts healthcare and food assistance. The deficit was used both as the justification for slashing social spending and the vehicle for financing the bill’s excess military spending. The legislation’s Pentagon budget increase isn’t paid for, as it were — not unlike the post-9/11 wars, the extra costs aren’t offset by commensurate tax increases; they’re funded by the deficit.” (07/16/25)
https://inthesetimes.com/article/trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-pentagon-budget-spending-military