Us Defence Budget
Congress grills Hegseth on deployment of troops to LA, Pentagon spending
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was met with sharp questions and criticism Tuesday by lawmakers who demanded details on his move to deploy troops to Los Angeles, and they expressed bipartisan frustration that Congress has not yet gotten a full defence budget from the Trump administration. Your tenure as secretary has been marked by endless chaos, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., told Hegseth. Others, including Republican leaders, warned that massive spending projects such as President Donald Trump's desire for a USD 175 billion Golden Dome missile defence system will get broad congressional scrutiny. The troop deployment triggered several fiery exchanges that at times devolved into shouting matches as House committee members and Hegseth yelled over one another. After persistent questioning about the cost of sending National Guard members and Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests over immigration raids, Hegseth turned to his acting comptroller, Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, who said
 "Congress grills Hegseth on deployment of troops to LA, Pentagon spending")
China slams US for increasing its defence budget to $1 trillion
The Chinese military on Wednesday criticised the United States for increasing its defence budget to USD one trillion, saying that "wanton use of force will not make America great again". Reacting to reports that the US defence budget for fiscal year 2026 will reach a record USD one trillion, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defence, said such an act would only inflict painful disasters upon the people of the US and the rest of the world. China, which is the second largest defence spender after the US, hiked its defence budget early this year by 7.2% increase to USD 249, which is a USD 17 billion rise compared to last year. America's sky-high defence budget exposed once again the bellicose nature of the US side and its belief in "might makes right," Zhang was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The US government is in heavy debt, yet it keeps pouring ill-gotten wealth exploited from other countries into manufacturing weapons,
 "China slams US for increasing its defence budget to $1 trillion")
Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth tout record $1 trillion US defense budget
We are very cost conscious but the military is something that we have to build and we have to be strong because you have a lot of bad forces out there now, Trump said
 "Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth tout record $1 trillion US defense budget")
US defence secy orders $50 bn Pentagon cuts to fund Trump's priorities
Hegseth has committed to redirecting Pentagon spending to more directly support war fighters
 "US defence secy orders $50 bn Pentagon cuts to fund Trump's priorities")
Trump 2.0 defense policy: Removing transgender troops, space-based defence
One of the controversial parts of Trump's executive order is aimed at revisiting the rules for transgender individuals in the US military. It has sparked widespread debate over inclusivity
 "Trump 2.0 defense policy: Removing transgender troops, space-based defence")
US President Joe Biden signs $858 billion defence authorization bill
Biden noted that there are "certain provisions of the Act" which raise concerns
 "US President Joe Biden signs $858 billion defence authorization bill")
Maintain military capability in Indo-Asia Pacific region: US House
US should maintain military capability to deter acts of aggression responsive to threats: NDAA
