From PBS NewsHour.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, made a closing statement Thursday in a hearing with Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request.

Vought, a key figure in the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce, also defended the president’s budget request in a House hearing Wednesday.

Trump’s funding wish list for fiscal year 2027 includes a staggering bump for defense spending — a nearly 50% increase to $1.5 trillion — to build his "dream military."

The president’s budget request is not final, but it does signal the Trump administration’s priorities for the coming fiscal year. Though Trump has tried to exert more authority over spending in his second term, it’s up to both chambers to revise and approve the final budget in the coming months.

Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show.

Newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe
PBS News podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts
Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG

Find more from PBS News at https://www.pbs.org/newshour
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6

Follow us:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsnews
X: http://www.twitter.com/newshour
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour
Facebook: http://www.pbs.org/newshour