The Office of Management and Administration under the Office of the President of the United States has sent to Congress President Donald Trump’s budget request for fiscal year 2026, the White House press office reported on 2 May.
It is about the so-called “skinny budget” – a general proposal for defence and non-defence spending for the next fiscal year, which in the United States begins on October 1.
According to reports, Trump’s proposed budget would cut non-defence discretionary spending by $163 billion or 23 per cent from the 2025 level.
According to the White House, the plan targets” deep power ” and provides for increased spending on defence and border security.
“This is the lowest level of non-defence spending since 2017. Savings are achieved by eliminating radical diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) and critical racial theory programmes, funding the “new green scam”, much of the federal government being used as a weapon against the American people, and moving programmes that are better suited to states and local governments,” the press office states.
- Among its top budget priorities, the Trump administration cites, among other things:
- Ending the “use of government as a weapon” by cutting” the misinformed “cybersecurity and infrastructure security offices,” so-called” fair housing programmes and “ending the Environmental Protection Agency’s unjust harassment of citizens”
- ending funding for “harmful progressive, Marxist media.” – specifically referring to $315 million in grants to promote “intersectionality,” “racial equality,” and ” LGBTQIA + Programming”
- border security-Trump’s request includes an additional $500 million for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- redirecting foreign aid
- “rebuilding” the military
- veterans support
- preserving social welfare programmes
- shifting NASA’s focus to landing on the Moon and Mars
- support for the development of artificial intelligence
Reuters specifies that the budget request is a statement of White House priorities that will give Republican budget managers in Congress a blueprint to begin drafting spending bills. The head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Susan Collins, was quoted by the agency as saying she reacted coldly to the document.
“This request came to Congress late, and key details are still unresolved. However, based on my initial review, I have serious objections,” she said.
In particular, she cited what she sees as underestimated defence spending and cuts to programmes to help low-income Americans heat their homes.
In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of another 139 grants worth more than $200 million. He said US taxpayers should not fund “false programmes such as” the development of the migrant domestic worker movement “in Lebanon or” Down with the trolls away!”in the UK.”
US President Donald Trump said on 9 April that he supported “significant spending cuts”. He has also voiced intentions to cut spending, probably to the tune of more than a trillion dollars.
Earlier, Donald Trump promised to cut government spending and directed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Ilon Musk, to realise the target.