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Donald Trump promises 'historic' increase in US military budget Donald Trump promises 'historic' increase in US military budget
(35 minutes later)
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. 
He is seeking to boost Pentagon spending by $54bn (£43bn) in his first budget proposal, a rise of around 9 per cent on 2016. 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.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.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.
“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,” Mr Trump 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."He 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 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." He 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."
Mr Trump also told governors the country will "do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people."  The president 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. Mr Trump 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."We're going to start spending on infrastructure big," he said.
“We have to start winning wars again — when I was young, in high school and college, people used to say we never lost a war. We need to win or don’t fight it all. It’s a mess like you have never seen before.”
His budget, once finalised and sent to Congress in mid-March, will likely set off a huge battle in Washington.
Democrats and some Republicans are certain to resist the cuts to domestic agencies, and any legislation to implement them would have to overcome a filibuster threat by Senate Democrats.
A government shutdown is a real possibility. 
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."