Trump's $1.5T Defense Budget Slash Non-Defense Spending

0:00It's April 3rd, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Sydney News today, your AI-powered local news. President Trump just dropped his budget request for fiscal year 2027, asking Congress for $1.5 trillion in defense, spending that's $445 billion more than last year, covering pay raises for most troops, his Golden Dome missile defense shield, and restocking key munitions. This lands right as the U.S. Israel conflict with Iran hits its sixth week. The plan slashes non-defense spending by 10 percent, cutting $73 billion overall. That hits places like the National Institutes of Health with $5 billion less, NASA by $5.6 billion, and FEMA's non-disaster grants by $1.3 billion. It also eyes privatizing airport screeners and pumps $152 million into reopening Alcatraz as a high security prison. Democrats are firing back hard. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says his party will block it entirely, while top

1:03appropriators like Patty Murray call it bleak and backward for. Cutting medical research to fund wars, even on armed services, Jack Reed labels the Pentagon ask flawed and irresponsible, vowing bipartisan scrutiny. Meanwhile, a U.S. F-15E fighter jet got shot down over Iran with the President briefed. To say one crew member is rescued, the others still missing amid search efforts. On the economy front, March added 178,000 jobs, beating forecasts, dropping unemployment to 4.3 percent, despite the war strain. Toss in extra cash for homeland security, like $63 billion more for immigration enforcement, and you've got a blueprint set for tough. Negotiations ahead. Congress will hash this out over months, likely reshaping big chunks before anything sticks.