Senator Bernie Sanders on Friday blasted President Trump’s 2027 budget request, labeling the proposed $500 billion increase in military spending as "totally nuts." The proposal would bring total defense outlays to $1.5 trillion, a 42% spike from current levels.
Sanders argued that the administration is forcing working-class families to pay for the hike by stripping funds from healthcare and childcare programs. "Trump wants another $500 billion for the military on top of the $1 trillion we already spend," the Vermont senator said. "We need to invest in our people, not more bombs and guns."
To balance the defense spending, the White House has proposed a 10% reduction in non-defense spending. Sanders criticized the plan as a direct assault on the social safety net during a conflict that lacks formal Congressional or United Nations authorization.
Energy Markets React to Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The budget dispute coincides with a significant escalation in the Persian Gulf. President Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that facilitates 20% of global oil trade.
Oil prices jumped above $105 a barrel following the announcement. Analysts predict that shipping through the strait will remain restricted for at least two months, even under best-case scenarios.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal suggest the administration is also weighing further military strikes against Iranian infrastructure. President Trump addressed the possibility of expanding the conflict during recent remarks, pointing to Iranian desalination and electric-generating plants as potential targets.
"I would hate to do it, but it’s their water, their desalination plants, their electric-generating plants, which are very easy to hit," the President said.
With gas prices rising and midterm elections approaching, the political pressure surrounding the administration's foreign policy is intensifying. Sanders indicated he intends to keep the heat on the White House, arguing that the combination of rising energy costs and domestic budget cuts places an unsustainable burden on American households.
