Last updated: October 27, 2026. Reference guide, reviewed when the underlying official data changes.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request is $1.45 trillion, made up of $1.1 trillion in discretionary funding and $350 billion in mandatory funding. That is $440.9 billion, or 44%, more than the $1.009 trillion enacted for fiscal 2026, according to the Department of War budget overview.
Defense budget totals, FY2025 to FY2027
Figures are in billions of dollars, from figure 1.1 of the overview book.
| Funding type | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Change FY26–27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary | 848.3 | 857.6 | 1,100.0 | +242.4 |
| Mandatory | 1.8 | 151.5 | 350.0 | +198.5 |
| Supplemental | 11.8 | – | – | – |
| Total | 861.9 | 1,009.1 | 1,450.0 | +440.9 |
The White House and the Department of War’s April 21 release round the request to $1.5 trillion and describe it as a 42% rise; the 44% figure compares it with the fiscal 2026 enacted level including mandatory funds.
Discretionary vs. mandatory money
Discretionary funding goes through the annual appropriations bills. The mandatory part comes through budget reconciliation: fiscal 2026 used funds from the Working Families Tax Cut Act (Public Law 119-21), and the fiscal 2027 plan assumes a further $350 billion will be enacted in a later reconciliation bill, the overview says. The White House fact sheet notes that reconciliation needs only a simple majority in Congress.
What the money is for
- Weapons and industry: $756.8 billion for new capabilities and the defense industrial base, the department said.
- Golden Dome: the release says the budget fully funds the homeland missile defense project.
- Munitions and critical minerals, plus barracks maintenance, are named as mandatory-fund priorities.
- Strategy: the overview lists homeland defense, deterring China along the First Island Chain, allied burden-sharing at 5% of GDP and expanding the industrial base.
Related systems in the request include THAAD interceptors and HIMARS launchers.
What happens next
A budget request is a proposal. Congress sets the final discretionary level in appropriations and policy in the National Defense Authorization Act, and the mandatory share depends on a reconciliation bill. Follow votes in the Legislation Tracker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US defense budget for 2027?
The request is $1.45 trillion ($1.5 trillion rounded): $1.1 trillion discretionary and $350 billion mandatory. Congress has not enacted it.
How much was the 2026 defense budget?
$1.009 trillion enacted, including $151.5 billion in mandatory funds, per the Department of War.
Why is it called the Department of War?
The Pentagon’s budget documents and releases now use the name Department of War.
How does US spending compare with other countries?
SIPRI ranks the United States as the largest spender; see our ranking of military budgets by country.
Related on Peter’s World
Sources
- Department of War: FY2027 Budget Request Overview Book
- Department of War: release on the FY2027 budget (April 21, 2026)
- The White House: Fiscal Year 2027 topline fact sheet
Additional sources
By Peter. This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.
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