Trump will cut aid to give military $54bn

DONALD TRUMP is ordering a $54billion surge in defence spending at the expense of environmental and foreign aid agencies as he tries to make good on the populist programme that propelled him to the White House.

The budget outlines were being sent to departments yesterday and offer a chance to define the new president’s priorities after a first month in which he has been bold on rhetoric but weak on detail.

He has a further opportunity to reset his presidency after a chaotic first month with a speech to a joint session of Congress tonight. During a meeting with state governors at the White House, Mr Trump described the blueprint as a budget for public safety and national security.

“It will include an historic increase in defence spending to rebuild the depleted military of the United States of America at a time we most need it,” he said.

Although full details of the draft budget have not yet been made public, an official from the Office of Management and Budget briefed reporters that it included an almost 10 per cent increase on the $600billion defence budget. It will leave expensive federal welfare programmes such as Social Security and Medicare in place, despite Republican calls for reform.

Instead the money will be found from a significant reduction in foreign aid along with cuts at most domestic agencies, the official said. Earlier reports suggested the Environment Protection Agency would bear the brunt. That sets up a showdown with Democratic opponents in Congress and the possibility of a government shutdown.

Agencies will have the chance to negotiate changes before the 2018 budget is published next month.

Critics question whether there is any need for a big increase in Pentagon spending. Mr Trump made rebuilding the armed forces a central part of his campaign. On the stump, he called for 90,000 more soldiers, 100 more air force jets and a 350-ship Navy (an increase on the 274 currently).

An official told Reuters the request for the Pentagon included more money for shipbuilding, military aircraft and “a more robust presence in key international waterways and choke-points” such as the Strait of Hormuz and South China Sea. At the same time, administration figures said federal benefits were safe from cuts, in keeping with Mr Trump’s campaign promises to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

George W Bush, the former president, took a swipe at Mr Trump yesterday, saying “we all need answers” on the extent of contact between his team and the Russian government.

In an interview with NBC’s Today show he also defended the media’s role in keeping world leaders in check, noting that “power can be addictive”, and warned against immigration policies that could alienate Muslims.

Mr Trump’s choice to be secretary of the Navy, businessman Philip Bilden, has withdrawn from consideration for the post, citing concerns about privacy and separating himself from his business interests.