Trump orders $50 billion cut from 2026 defense budget, shields ‘Iron Dome’ initiative

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has directed the Pentagon to reduce its budget by 8% annually over the next five years, However, key administration priority programs will be shielded from cuts, including border security and the newly proposed Iron Dome for America missile defense initiative, according to a statement issued on Feb. 19 by Robert Salesses, who is performing the duties of Deputy Secretary of Defense.In a Feb. 18 memo, the administration ordered the military branches and civilian defense agencies to submit budget proposals by Feb. 24 reflecting the reductions. The targeted cuts amount to approximately $50 billion from the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that had been completed by the Biden administration. “President Trump’s charge to the Department is clear: to achieve peace through strength. We will do this by putting forward budgets that revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence,” Salesses said.The Iron Dome for America, directed in a Jan. 27 executive order, aims to create a comprehensive shield against sophisticated threats including hypersonic and ballistic missiles, and relies heavily on space assets. No cost estimates have been released for the program. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated a review to identify items that would be cut from the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. The review will focus on programs considered “low-impact and low-priority Biden-legacy programs,” according to Salesses.The targeted cuts would be redirected toward initiatives aligning with Trump’s priorities, the statement said. Specifically, the administration has signaled that programs to climate change and what it describes as “excessive bureaucracy” will be first in line for reductions.The Pentagon’s finalized budget proposal, reflecting these directives, is expected to be submitted to Congress in the coming months, setting the stage for a contentious debate over defense priorities.