WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is embarking on a review of former President Joe Biden’s defense budget for next fiscal year to find areas in which funds can be cut and redirected to cover President Donald Trump’s priorities, according to Robert G. Salesses, who is performing the duties of the department’s deputy secretary. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Pentagon is embarking on a review of former President Joe Biden’s defense budget for next fiscal year to find areas in which funds can be cut and redirected to cover President Donald Trump’s priorities, according to Robert G. Salesses, who is performing the duties of the department’s deputy secretary 
  • In a statement late Wednesday, Salesses said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the review with the goal of refocusing the Pentagon on its “core mission of deterring and winning wars" 
  • Salesses said the department is looking to cut 8% of Biden’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, which he said amounts to about $50 billion
  • Regarding where the funds could be redirected, Salesses cited securing the nation’s borders, ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and building an iron dome for the U.S. as major priorities

In a statement late Wednesday, Salesses said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the review with the goal of refocusing the Pentagon on its “core mission of deterring and winning wars.” 

“We will do this by putting forward budgets that revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence,” he said. 

Salesses said the department is looking to cut 8% of Biden’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, which he said amounts to about $50 billion. Those conducting the review will produce a list of items that can be axed, he said, specifically mentioning climate-change programs and those the administration considers as “excessive bureaucracy.”  

Regarding where the funds could be redirected, Salesses cited securing the nation’s borders, ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and building an Iron Dome air defense system for the U.S. as major priorities. 

Addressing immigration and the border is one of Trump’s biggest agenda items. In his first few weeks in office, he has already signed executive orders seeking to end DEI initiatives in the federal government and directing Hegseth to present plans to build an Iron Dome within the next two months. 

It comes as the Trump administration has embarked on a full-scope campaign to shrink the size of the federal government and cut costs under an effort branded as the U.S. DOGE Service, helmed by billionaire Elon Musk. The campaign has already led to mass layoffs across federal departments and efforts to shutter agencies such as USAID. 

Earlier this month, Trump said “Yes” when asked at a news conference with the prime minister of Japan at the White House if he plans to direct DOGE to review Pentagon spending

“We’re going to go through everything,” he added. 

At the same time, Trump and top officials in his administration have called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending.