Live updates: White House budget expected, with up to $1.5T for defense

The Trump administration is sending its 2027 budget proposal to Congress on Friday that allocates up to $1.5 trillion for defense spending, with approximately $350 billion of that funded through the reconciliation process, according to an Office of Management and Budget official. The massive defense increase reflects the administration's priority on military expansion and reflects broader Republican efforts to strengthen armed forces spending. The reconciliation funding mechanism allows the budget to pass with a simple Senate majority, bypassing the 60-vote threshold typically required and giving Republicans a path forward without Democratic support. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is involved in the proposal's development. The proposal will test Congress's appetite for the spending level amid ongoing debates over fiscal priorities and the federal deficit.