The Trump administration’s budget chief said Monday that the president’s budget blueprint reflected the increased defense spending and cuts to domestic program that the president promised during the campaign, describing the plan as an “America-first budget.”
The budget blueprint boosts defense spending by $54 billion that will be offset by cuts to domestic programs, such as spending on foreign aid, said Office of Budget and Management Director Mick Mulvaney.
“We are taking his words and turning them into policies and dollars,” he said. “It reduces money to other nations, eliminates duplicative programs and eliminates programs that just don’t work.”
Areas that would see increases or no decreases in funding are defense, national security, law enforcement and veterans programs.
The cut to domestic program will be of historic proportions. But Mr. Mulvaney said it was necessary in the face of federal debt topping $20 trillion.
He said that every budget cut would be tied to a promise Mr. Trump made on the campaign trail or in remarks since taking office.
The top-line budget numbers are being sent to federal agencies for input on where cuts and be made. Those recommendations will help draft a final budget that will be submitted in May, Mr. Mulvaney said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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