U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, have expressed support for President Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027.
In a joint statement, the chairmen said: “We commend President Trump for committing to a $1.5 trillion defense budget. This is exactly the kind of investment it will take to rebuild our military and restore American leadership on the world stage.
America faces intensifying global threats from China, Russia, Iran, and narco-terrorists. This substantial increase in defense spending is therefore both timely and essential. We are also leading by example by bringing U.S. defense spending to approximately 5% of our GDP, which is what we expect from our NATO allies.
“Increased investment will lead to tangible hard power: accelerated shipbuilding and aircraft production, a modernized arsenal, and innovative technologies that ensure our warfighters remain unmatched. These efforts prioritize the needs of our men and women in uniform and deliver the ‘Dream Military’ President Trump has envisioned.
“Leaders across the political spectrum have long been proud to call the U.S. military the most powerful in the world. They have vowed never to let it fall behind. Yet too many have failed to match those words with resources and action. The previous administration resisted adequate military funding, instead settling for depleted stockpiles, aging equipment, and worsening recruitment challenges.
“President Trump’s decisive commitment reverses these years of neglect. He is replacing rhetoric with investment and sending a message to our adversaries. America can and will defend the homeland and stand with our allies. We share the president’s ultimate desire for peace, and we agree that it will only be achieved through strength, by preventing conflict before it begins.
“As we welcome this step, we are ready to continue working with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to rebuild America’s military and get this budget passed into law.”
The House Armed Services Committee plays an important role in shaping laws related to national defense—including oversight over programs involving the Armed Forces—and conducts hearings on key security issues as part of its legislative responsibilities according to its official website. The committee also oversees community project funding requests through processes such as those found in legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act [source].
Representative Mike Rogers currently serves as chair of this committee [source], which operates under jurisdiction defined by Rule X of House Rules regarding matters of national defense [source]. The committee includes members such as Reps. Joe Wilson, Michael R. Turner, and Robert J. Wittman [source].