Trump's $1.5-trillion defence spending push runs into a Democratic wall after midterm rout

US President Donald Trump's ambitious plan to increase defence spending to $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2027 is facing mounting resistance after Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections, weakening the prospects of congressional approval for the proposed 44% increase amid the unpopular war against Iran.

Democrats, who secured strong majorities in both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's elections, have signalled they will oppose efforts to advance the spending proposal. The budget request was already facing considerable resistance from the opposition, which has objected to the scale of the increase from the previous fiscal year.

Republican lawmakers are also expected to face difficulties securing enough support to push the proposal through during the lame-duck session before the new Congress takes office in January. The political fallout from the Pentagon's military campaign against Iran, which has proved unpopular and contributed to the party's electoral setbacks, could further complicate efforts to secure backing for higher defence spending.


Adam Smith, the incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, called for a more restrained approach to military expenditure following the election.

"We must push for the development of a more realistic and sustainable approach to our national security - one that does not require a defense budget in excess of $1 trillion or one paid for with draconian cuts to critical domestic programs," Smith said in a statement.

The growing opposition could jeopardise some of Trump's key defence initiatives, including the proposed Golden Dome missile defence system and his plan for a new fleet of Trump-class battleships. It could also create uncertainty for major US defence contractors, some of which may face greater congressional scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest involving the administration.

Shares of leading defence companies, including Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp, declined this week as the election results weakened expectations of a substantial increase in US military expenditure.

Congress faces two major defence-related decisions when lawmakers return to Washington on Monday: the annual defence policy bill and the fiscal 2027 spending package. The new financial year began on October 1 under temporary funding arrangements that are due to expire on December 11, leaving lawmakers with a tight deadline to reach an agreement.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the proposed budget increase, arguing that the additional funding would accelerate long-delayed military modernisation as autonomous technologies reshape warfare.

However, the scale of the proposed spending increase has drawn objections even from within Republican ranks. Concerns over cuts to domestic programmes, the rising financial burden of the Iran war and the cost of major projects such as the Trump-class battleships have added to the resistance against the proposal.

With inputs from agencies