SAC: $852B for Defense, $200B for the Rest
Ahead of a late September funding deadline, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced plans for roughly $1trillion in discretionary spending for FY26. In a bipartisan vote the committee proposed $852 billion for defense programs and $200 billion for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
NSC Staffers’ Politics Questioned
Trump administration officials have begun questioning career civil servants who work on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for in the 2024 election, their political contributions, and about their social media posts. Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, indicated his intention to ensure the council is staffed with those who support Trump’s agenda.
Navy Shipbuilding Plan: 85 New Ships @ $1 Trillion
A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimates that the US Navy’s total shipbuilding costs would average about $40 billion per year (in 2024 dollars) through 2054. The service wants to expand its fleet of battle force ships to face growing global threats.
