WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump supports plans to ask Congress for $ 750 billion in defense spending next year, suggesting a surge in defense spending while other government agencies are under scrutiny, a US official said on Sunday.
Trump, facing a budget deficit at the highest level in six years, called on his government this year to make proposals to cut its agency spending by 5 percent, but said the military was largely exempted.
The $ 750 billion would be larger than the $ 733 billion the Pentagon expects for fiscal year 2020, as well as the $ 700 billion Trump reported in October.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Defense Secretary Jim Matisse had discussed the budget with Trump in recent days and briefed him on the dangers of not increasing defense spending.
During the discussion it was clear that Trump wanted to "advance the progress his administration has made in rebuilding the army," the official said.
