Trump’s budget includes border enforcement, defense surge, and significant cutbacks
Within the framework of Trump’s Budget proposal is an intensified approach to border security, an increase in defense spending, and significant reductions in various sectors. House Republicans have introduced an extensive legislative package that entails hundreds of billions in new spending and significant policy reforms across immigration, defense, education, and energy sectors.
The Homeland Security Committee has sanctioned $69 billion in new expenditures, primarily directed towards immigration enforcement and border security initiatives. The legislation allocates $46.5 billion to recommence the construction of President Donald Trump’s US-Mexico border wall, detailing intentions for 700 miles of “primary” wall, 900 miles of river barriers, among other provisions.
The proposal allocates $4 billion to enhance staffing by hiring 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents and 5,000 new customs officers. Another $2.1 billion has been allocated for recruitment and retention bonuses. A distinct provision seeks to fundamentally alter immigration policy. Migrants seeking asylum would incur a $1,000 application fee — a policy that aligns the US with nations such as Australia and Iran that implement comparable fees.
Additional fees have been introduced, including $3,500 for sponsors of unaccompanied minors, $2,500 penalties for sponsors who do not attend court dates, and a $1,000 fee for individuals granted parole into the country. The proposal outlines the removal of one million immigrants each year, alongside an increase in detention capacity to accommodate 100,000 individuals. The proposal additionally advocates for the recruitment of 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators. Moreover, individuals whose residences are appraised at over $1 million would be rendered ineligible for Medicaid according to the proposed modifications.
Defence budget experiences a significant increase, driven by investments in missile defense systems and support for military personnel. The House Armed Services Committee exceeded its original $100 billion mandate, endorsing a $150 billion augmentation in defense and national security funding. Among the most significant allocations is $25 billion designated for Trump’s long-envisioned missile defense initiative, referred to as the “Golden Dome for America.” The proposal allocates $21 billion for the replenishment of the nation’s ammunition supplies, $34 billion to enhance the navy’s shipbuilding capabilities, and $5 billion for initiatives related to border security.
Moreover, $9 billion is designated to enhance the quality of life for service members, encompassing funding for housing, healthcare, and adjustments to special pay. Among the most significant elements of the package is a suggested overhaul of the student loan repayment system, anticipated to yield $330 billion in budget savings. The proposal aims to abolish all current repayment plans, substituting them with only two alternatives: a standard plan featuring fixed monthly payments spanning 10 to 25 years, and an income-based “repayment assistance” plan. In contrast to existing programmes, the latter would exhibit reduced generosity, necessitating elevated minimum payments from low-income borrowers and prolonging loan forgiveness to 30 years rather than the current 20 to 25 years. The modifications are set to be implemented in July 2026.
The legislation additionally aims to reverse policies established during the Biden administration that facilitated loan cancellations for students affected by the closure or deception of their colleges. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has put forth a proposal to cut federal employee retirement benefits in an effort to reduce the deficit, with the goal of saving $50.9 billion over the next decade. The proposal mandates that federal employees hired before 2014 increase their pension contributions to align with the 4.4 percent rate established for those hired post-2014. It would also base retirement annuities on a worker’s five highest-earning years rather than the top three. Another proposed reduction involves the removal of supplemental payments to federal employees who retire prior to becoming eligible for Social Security.
The legislation encompasses measures aimed at substantially enhancing resource extraction on federal lands. It would facilitate the relaxation of restrictions on drilling, mining, and logging by accelerating government approvals and reducing royalty rates for oil, gas, and coal production.
Oil and gas royalties on federal lands would decrease from 16.7 percent to 12.5 percent, and from 18.75 percent to 12.5 percent in offshore areas. Coal royalties would decrease from 12.5 per cent to 7 per cent. The measure stipulates four oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the forthcoming decade and designates 6,250 square miles — an expanse exceeding that of Connecticut — for coal leasing.
Republicans contend that these modifications will stimulate development and compensate for lost revenues, although it is still uncertain whether energy companies will exhibit renewed interest in light of the transition to renewables. In a last-minute addition, GOP lawmakers incorporated a contentious provision to authorize the sale of extensive areas of public land in Nevada and Utah. The decision attracted significant backlash from Democrats and environmental advocates, rekindling a protracted discussion regarding land utilization in the Western United States.
