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Donald Trump promises 'historic' increase in US military budget Donald Trump promises 'historic' increase in US military budget
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President Donald Trump has promised a "historic" increase in the United States' military budget.President Donald Trump has promised a "historic" increase in the United States' military budget.
Mr Trump said he would propose a budget that would ramp up spending on defence, but seek savings elsewhere to pay for it.  ​Mr Trump said he would propose a budget that would ramp up spending on defence but seek savings elsewhere to pay for it. 
His upcoming budget will ask for a $54 billion increase in the country's defence budget. He is seeking to boost Pentagon spending by $54bn (£43bn) in his first budget proposal, a rise of around 9 per cent on 2016.
The president will let the Department of Defence decide how to spend the extra billions and most federal agencies will see reductions in funding, an official from the Office of Management and Budget told reporters.
Another White House budget official said he will seek to cut the same amount from non-defence spending, including a large reduction in foreign aid.
"We're going to do more with less and make the government lean and accountable," the president said in a meeting with governors in which he said he planned to propose a substantial increase in public safety spending."We're going to do more with less and make the government lean and accountable," the president said in a meeting with governors in which he said he planned to propose a substantial increase in public safety spending.
Mr Trump also said he would talk about his plans for infrastructure spending in a speech to Congress on Tuesday. "We're going to start spending on infrastructure big," he said. “This budget follows through on my promise on keeping Americans safe,” Mr Trump said. “It will include a historic increase in defence spending.”
“This budget follows through on my promise on keeping Americans safe,” he said. “It will include a historic increase in defence spending.” He told the nation's governors at the White House he will rebuild the "depleted military."
Mr Trump told the nation's governors at the White House he will rebuild the "depleted military." Mr Trump said he is planning to act quickly to bring reforms to the country and emphasising his plans for the military.
Mr Trump said during a meeting with dozens of governors he is planning to act quickly to bring reforms to the country and emphasising his plans for the military. The president said "we never win — we never win wars" and added that the Middle East is worse off. He told governors: "We have a hornet's nest. It's a mess."
The president said "we never win — we never win wars" and adds that the Middle East is worse off. He told the governors: "We have a hornet's nest. It's a mess."
Mr Trump also told governors the country will "do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people." Mr Trump also told governors the country will "do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people." 
But he promised them his budget will increase spending for federal law enforcement, moves that will help the US "fight crime."But he promised them his budget will increase spending for federal law enforcement, moves that will help the US "fight crime."
He said his budget proposal will also keep tax dollars in the US to help veterans and first responders. He said his budget proposal will also keep tax dollars in the US to help veterans and first responders. 
The president said he would talk about his plans for infrastructure spending in a speech to Congress on Tuesday.
"We're going to start spending on infrastructure big," he said.
It comes as senior White House sources say Mr Trump's sharp increases in military budget come at the expense of drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.It comes as senior White House sources say Mr Trump's sharp increases in military budget come at the expense of drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The New York Times claims four senior administration officials say Mr Trump will demand tens of billions in reductions to the EPA and State Department.The New York Times claims four senior administration officials say Mr Trump will demand tens of billions in reductions to the EPA and State Department.
Defence experts have questioned the increase in military spending, which already stands at roughly $600bn annually, when the spend on the State Department and foreign assistance stands at $50 billion per year.Defence experts have questioned the increase in military spending, which already stands at roughly $600bn annually, when the spend on the State Department and foreign assistance stands at $50 billion per year.
On Friday, Mr Trump told the American Conservative Union’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland: “Nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody.On Friday, Mr Trump told the American Conservative Union’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland: “Nobody is going to mess with us. Nobody.
"It will be one of the greatest military build-ups in American history.""It will be one of the greatest military build-ups in American history."
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