United States: U.S. President Donald Trump needs Congress to approve a national defense budget that stands at $892.6 billion for fiscal year 2026 with no change from fiscal year 2025 finances. 

Strengthening National Security and Military Reconstruction 

The White House introduced a budget proposal on Friday that makes military reconstruction, deterrence restoration, and national security advancement its main priorities, as reported by Reuters. 

The proposed national security budget encompasses funds to support the Department of Defense and other organizations involved in safeguarding the nation. 

Defense Package Tied to Tax Cuts Bill 

The budget request enters public view while congressional Republicans seek to add a $150-billion defense package in Trump’s sweeping tax cuts bill, which reduces taxes by $5 trillion and raises federal government debt to $5.7 trillion in the next decade. 

When the bill is successfully passed into law, the funding streams from the massive reconciliation bill will start to be distributed in 2026. 

🇺🇸💰🛡️ Trump Seeks $892.6B Defense Budget With Flat Growth for 2026

🔹 Summary:

President Trump has proposed an $892.6 billion defense budget for 2026, keeping military spending flat in nominal terms while prioritizing deterrence and national security.

The budget faces… https://t.co/lqQ4B0u7GB pic.twitter.com/1tgS8OiM18

— PiQ (@PiQSuite) May 2, 2025

President’s Commitment to a Stronger Military 

As stated in a White House statement, the proposed budget for the Defense Department “builds on the President’s promise to achieve peace through strength by providing the resources to rebuild our military, re-establish deterrence, and revive the warrior ethos of our Armed Forces.” 

The White House allocated the money to boost national defense capabilities while countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific and enhancing the defense sector’s industrial foundation. 

The proposed budget needs congressional evaluation through debate and review before lawmakers take decision on funding amounts and priorities during subsequent weeks. 

United States: House Democrats now urge the Smithsonian inspector general to commence an examination of U.S. President Donald Trump’s March executive order involving federally supported museums because they believe this policy violates existing laws and threatens the Smithsonian’s autonomy, as reported by Reuters. 

Lawmakers Demand Investigation 

Democratic Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Paul Tonko led an effort to question Executive Order 14253 through their signed letter published first on Reuters. The order faces opposition from 71 Democrats because the administration seeks to eliminate exhibits that it deems “race-centered ideology” or “divisive.” 

The letter details how the Smithsonian’s ability to provide accurate documentation of American history and culture becomes compromised through executing the order. 

“What’s very clear in Donald Trump’s second occupancy and this anti-freedom agenda – is to undermine the freedom to learn,” Pressley said in an interview. 

“They want a citizenry that’s ignorant and uninformed. I want them to know that these abuses of power and the lawless acts of this administration cannot go unchecked.” 

Pres. Trump signed an executive order behind closed doors on Thursday directing federal agencies and the Smithsonian to eliminate what the order calls "divisive" and "anti-American" content from museums and national parks, sources said.

Read more: https://t.co/Btcvt5Q5RH pic.twitter.com/yt28lRPvj1

— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2025

“Anti-Freedom Agenda” Under Scrutiny 

In 1846, the U.S. Congress established the Smithsonian Institution with clear guidelines for its function as an independent, nonpartisan organization free from all forms of political influence. Legislators wrote to warn that funding requirements tied to right-wing beliefs endanger both Smithsonian oversight and adherence to established legal standards. 

“We gain nothing by stamping out the rich and diverse history of our nation; we only condemn ourselves and the generations that follow to be more ignorant,” Rep. Tonko said in a statement to Reuters. 

During his first 100 days, Trump lost several legal battles when multiple executive orders were passed before the judges. Advocacy groups, together with states and individuals have launched more than 200 lawsuits to stop Trump administration executive orders about immigration policies and birthright citizenship and environmental protection rollbacks and federal efforts to cut down diversity and inclusion programs. 

Preserving Historical Truth at Risk 

The government has taken down historical information about African Americans and other minorities from government web pages temporarily in some instances. 

Trump just made an executive order that targets the Smithsonian Museum of African-American Culture and History because it says race is invented.

Go visit now while you can. JD Vance is also on the board. pic.twitter.com/C22mEM3u1D

— Zion (@feelmyhelpcomin) March 28, 2025

The National Park Service reinstalled Harriet Tubman’s historical content after facing criticism because they had taken it down from an Underground Railroad website, according to published reports. 

Museum Leaders Resist Political Pressure 

Bedia Coleman-Robinson, as President and CEO of the Association of African American Museums, has repeatedly lent her expertise to D.C. museums and board diversity plans while asserting that political interference should never compromise essential historical collections, as reported by Reuters. 

“These boards and museums have the responsibility to tell the truth about American history,” said Coleman-Robinson. “I have a little bit of silver lining and hope that the people doing the work day-to-day will do what’s right and stay true to their mission.” 

United States: Defence Department leadership supports new and existing defense contracts to grant the Army authority for weapon repairs with plans to decrease maintenance costs and speed through the elimination of manufacturer-only servicing requirements, as reported by Reuters. 

Boosting Operational Efficiency Through Self-Sufficiency 

A right-to-repair directive included in an April 30 memo signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will improve Army maintenance processes while reducing dependence on original manufacturers and improving system operational effectiveness. 

Reducing Dependence on Major Contractors 

The government currently pays Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), Boeing Co (BA.N), and RTX Corp (RTX.N) contractors to use original equipment and expensive installers for part service while limiting military maintainers to obtain 3D printing and faster, cheaper installation in the field. 

The Army requests permission through this provision to perform maintenance while accessing necessary software, tools, and data without any intellectual property limitations blocking their access. 

Pentagon to seek 'Right to Repair' provisions in Army contracts https://t.co/dgl1jd7205

— Michelle (@saintsfanIL) May 1, 2025

“While preserving the intellectual capital of American industry,” according to Hegseth’s memo, the contracts should relax limits. 

Senator Warren Advocates for the Change 

Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts is leading demands for the right to repair provisions at the Pentagon as a Democratic Senator. 

“This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months and months to get the equipment they need to be repaired,” she said. 

The transformation represents a strategic move to quicken acquisition efficiency and modernization processes. The Pentagon received a request from Hegseth in March for software acquisition restructuring to gain access to broader commercial as well as nontraditional software vendors as the service seeks faster system modernization, as reported by Reuters. 

Looking Towards the Future: Enhancing Modernization 

This week Hegseth instructed the Army to make investments that should maximize long-range precision fires along with air and missile defense systems and cyber capabilities and electronic warfare systems and space countermeasures.