The president's fiscal 2027 budget request would redirect trillions of dollars in discretionary spending from nondefense programs to defense over the next decade, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis.
CBO estimated that defense discretionary outlays would be $2.4 trillion higher over 2027 through 2036 than under its updated current-law projections.
Nondefense discretionary outlays would be $2.6 trillion lower over the same period. The two categories cover annually appropriated programs and do not by themselves represent total federal spending.
The proposals would also increase mandatory outlays by $351 billion, primarily for defense programs and activities, CBO said. Mandatory spending generally operates under laws that continue without annual appropriations.
The administration submitted the request on April 3. It included proposals affecting mandatory and discretionary spending but did not include proposals affecting federal revenues.
The request also lacked summary calculations for deficits and federal debt. CBO therefore did not present the report as a full accounting of the budget's effect on borrowing or fiscal balance.
CBO measured the proposals against updated spending projections that generally assume current law remains in place. The agency incorporated legislation enacted after its February 2026 baseline and made small technical revisions.
A budget request is a policy proposal, not enacted law. Congress determines appropriations and can accept, reject or modify the requested changes; mandatory-policy changes generally require legislation.
The decade totals are estimates, not fixed future amounts. Economic conditions, new laws, technical assumptions and the timing of program changes can all alter realized spending.