Blissfully naive Americans — particularly those who adhere to the “tread on everyone, except for me” code of ethics — are prematurely breathing a sigh of relief that the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” didn’t impact them.
There’s just one problem: The majority of the “OBBB” doesn’t go into effect until after the midterms.
J. Basil Dannebohm
But not to worry. President Donald Trump released his proposed 2027 budget a couple of weeks ago.
Like the “OBBB,” it was written in large part by White House Budget Director Russell Vought, one of the principal architects of Project 2025. While some Americans might indeed dodge the collateral damage of the “OBBB,” odds are you’re going to feel some impact of the budget if passed in its present form. Granted, budgets rarely pass as written, but given rampant Congressional kowtowing the possibility still stands.
Trump’s proposed budget seeks to increase military spending to $1.5 trillion — a 42% increase. The White House boasts that this defense funding approaches the “historic increases just prior to World War II.”
In recent comments, the president has indicated military spending is his top priority, suggesting it should come before federal funding for social safety-net programs, day care and health services, which he suggested should be handled at the state level.
Trump’s proposal asks Congress to cut non-defense spending by $73 billion. For these budget cuts, the White House claims it will target “woke, weaponized and wasteful programs,” including:
- $510 million from grants for farmers and agricultural research
- $5 billion from medical research (NIH)
- $1.1 billion from scientific research funding
- $5 billion from public health programs, mental health services and disease prevention
- $50 million from grants to help communities build more housing (fully eliminated)
- $1.6 billion from job training for at-risk youth (fully eliminated)
- $90 million from grants to reduce diesel pollution (fully eliminated)
- $3.4 billion from NASA space and earth science research
- $489 million from housing and services for Native American communities
- $372 million from airline service for rural and small communities
- $2.7 billion from college access and higher education support
- $1.5 billion from vocational training and adult education (fully eliminated)
- $356 million from emergency preparedness and disaster response
- $2 billion from international humanitarian aid
- $40 million from protection against chemical and biological weapons threats
- $1.3 billion from FEMA community disaster preparedness grants
- $529 million from housing assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS (fully eliminated)
- $315 million from democracy and anti-corruption programs abroad
- $1.4 billion from IRS taxpayer services and enforcement
- $297 million from NASA technology innovation programs
- $158 million from loans for small businesses
- $768 million from refugee resettlement assistance
- $1.1 billion from international Space Station operations
- $82 million from loans for rural small businesses (fully eliminated)
- $150 million from support for American exports and trade
- $204 million from loans and investments for underserved communities
- $2.2 billion from broadband and internet access programs
- $47 million from support for minority-owned businesses (fully eliminated)
- $53 million from funding for Homeland Security operations
- $659 million from community building grants
- $4 billion from help paying home heating and cooling bills for low-income families (fully eliminated)
- $101 million from enforcement of equal pay and workplace anti-discrimination laws
- $170 million from Small Business Administration operations
- $993 million from scientific research and technology standards
- $150 million from cutting-edge clean energy research
- $775 million from local anti-poverty programs (fully eliminated)
- $58 million from homebuyer and renter counseling services (fully eliminated)
- $2.5 billion from clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure funds
- $61 million from support for farmers and food markets (fully eliminated)
- $707 million from cybersecurity protection for critical infrastructure
- $1.6 billion from weather forecasting, fisheries and coastal protection (NOAA)
- $819 million from care and shelter for migrant children
- $642 million from international economic and treasury programs
- $45 million from renewable energy development programs (fully eliminated)
- $1.3 billion from affordable housing construction grants (fully eliminated)
- $309 million from small business development and entrepreneurship programs
- $1 billion from EPA grants to states for environmental protection
- $240 million from school meals and food education for children abroad (fully eliminated)
- $234 million from worker safety and labor protection programs
- $20 million from civil rights mediation and legal access programs (fully eliminated)
- $60 million from enforcement of fair housing and anti-discrimination laws
- $449 million from economic development grants for communities
- $486 million from grants for public transit projects
- $395 million from jobs program for low-income seniors (fully eliminated)
- $393 million from programs to reduce homelessness
- $100 million from air pollution monitoring and reduction programs (fully eliminated)
- $143 million from STEM education programs
- $46 million from programs to combat child labor and forced labor abroad
- $4.3 billion from global health and disease prevention programs
- $15.2 billion from roads, bridges and infrastructure projects
- $386 million from environmental cleanup programs
- $1.2 billion from food aid for hungry families abroad (fully eliminated)
- $2.7 billion from funding for the United Nations and international partnerships
- $8.5 billion from funding for public schools
- $1.1 billion from home energy efficiency and clean energy programs (fully eliminated)
Remember: Protests, phone calls and emails are all well and good, but communication with elected officials begins at the ballot box.
J. Basil Dannebohm is a writer, speaker, consultant and former state legislator who divides his time between Kansas and Washington, D.C.