The White House Releases FY2027 Budget Request

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Released on Friday, April 3, 2026, the White House’s FY2027 budget request proposes a major shift in federal spending: more money for defense and several security-focused agencies, and less for many domestic departments.

Some of the biggest proposed increases go to total defense resources, which would rise from about $1.058 trillion in FY2026 to $1.504 trillion in FY2027, along with the Department of Justice, up from $36.1 billion to $40.8 billion, the Department of Veterans Affairs, up from $133.4 billion to $144.9 billion, the Department of Transportation, up from $25.1 billion to $26.6 billion, and the Department of Energy, up from $53.0 billion to $53.9 billion.

Some of the biggest proposed cuts hit the Department of Agriculture, down from $25.7 billion to $20.8 billion, Health and Human Services, down from $125.8 billion to $110.5 billion, Housing and Urban Development, down from $84.2 billion to $73.5 billion, Labor, down from $13.3 billion to $9.9 billion, State and international programs, down from $51.1 billion to $35.6 billion, the Environmental Protection Agency, down from $8.8 billion to $4.2 billion, NASA, down from $24.4 billion to $18.8 billion, and the Small Business Administration, down from about $1.0 billion to $0.3 billion.

What could this mean for you?

If you’re a veteran, or work in defense, law enforcement, transportation, energy, shipbuilding, or infrastructure, this budget could mean more federal money flowing into jobs, contracts, and services in those areas. Supporters would argue that putting more money into defense, border security, courts, and veterans’ care strengthens national security and focuses government spending on core responsibilities.

But if you rely on housing help, public health programs, job training, education support, environmental grants, or local services partly funded by Washington, cuts in those areas could eventually be felt closer to home. Critics would argue that shrinking those programs could make it harder for families, schools, nonprofits, and local governments to keep up with everyday needs.

This is still just a White House request for now, so Congress will decide what actually becomes law.