U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a nearly $893 billion defense and national security budget proposal for 2026, signaling a strategic shift in military priorities. The plan emphasizes cutting-edge missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and a pay raise for service members, while trimming back on costly platforms like the F-35 fighter jet and Navy shipbuilding.
U.S. President Donald Trump gets a briefing before he tours the pre-commissioned U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding facilities in Newport News, Virginia, U.S. March 2, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The proposed $892.6 billion budget—roughly flat compared to the current year—seeks to modernize the U.S. military for emerging threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, by reallocating funds from traditional hardware to next-generation technology.
Fewer F-35s, More Missiles and Drones
A major headline from the proposal is the reduced procurement of F-35 stealth fighter jets. Trump’s budget requests just 47 F-35s for fiscal year 2026, a sharp drop from the 68 jets requested in the final year of the Biden administration. The move has already sparked pushback on Capitol Hill, where the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has introduced a draft bill calling for 69 F-35s, one more than Biden’s last budget.
FILE PHOTO: An F-35A Lockheed Martin fighter jet lands on a motorway, in Tervo, Finland September 21, 2023. NTB/Ole Andreas Vekve via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NORWAY./File Photo
The reduced focus on the F-35—produced by Lockheed Martin—comes as the Trump administration doubles down on more versatile and cost-effective weapons systems. The budget increases investment in long-range missiles such as the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). These systems, favored by the Air Force, are considered critical for countering potential threats in the Pacific region.
The Pentagon is also boosting spending on small drones, drawing on lessons from recent conflicts such as Ukraine, where unmanned aircraft have proven essential in low-cost, high-impact battlefield scenarios.
Trimming Costs and Personnel
In addition to scaling back on F-35 procurement, the budget also proposes buying only three new warships in this cycle. A Virginia-class submarine and 15 other vessels, produced by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries, are expected to be funded through a separate appropriation.
Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Air Force General Dan Caine, attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
To further rein in costs, the Navy will reduce its civilian workforce by over 7,000 positions, and the Pentagon plans to retire older, costlier ships and aircraft to make room for newer technologies.
Despite the cuts in hardware and personnel, Trump is asking Congress to approve a 3.8% pay raise for U.S. troops, a move likely to win bipartisan support.
The Golden Dome and Broader Defense Strategy
While most funding for Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield—a centerpiece of his military vision—is included in a separate budget, the broader strategy remains consistent: shift spending toward deterrence and modernization.
A sign announcing the closure of the Interdune Boardwalk is placed as part of an active safety corridor after an Air Force F-16 jet crashed in the park in April 2024, at the White Sands National Park, New Mexico, U.S. June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee
This approach is reinforced by the pending “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, a sweeping $150 billion defense package that includes a $25 billion boost for the Golden Dome. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is central to Trump’s military agenda.
