Trump seeks big increase for military

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is preparing a budget that would fulfill some of his top campaign promises by boosting military spending while cutting domestic programs.

But his reluctance to embrace cuts to entitlement programs could lead to tensions with Republicans in Congress who long have argued that Medicare and Social Security must be overhauled to ensure the government's fiscal health.

The White House announced the first details Monday of the president's spending plan, highlighting a $54 billion increase in military spending and equal cuts to domestic programs, such as to the Environmental Protection Agency and foreign aid.

'We are going to do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people,” Trump said at the White House. 'We can do so much more with the money we spend.”

White House officials skirted questions about whether the budget would include proposals to slow the growth of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - the largest drivers of federal spending. But Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, have for years argued that spending increases must be accompanied by significant changes to entitlements.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer insisted Trump intends to keep his campaign promise to preserve the programs, but avoided saying whether there is any wiggle room, such as protecting current beneficiaries while implementing future changes.

Republicans have long advocated significantly changing the programs to address the nation's debt, which is now nearly $20 trillion.

Analysts said policy proposals the administration has released would do little to fix the growing red ink.

'This is a president who loves to talk about easy choices and pretty much runs away from any hard choices when it comes to the budget,” said Maya MacGuineas with the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Monday's announcement was the first indication of spending priorities by the new administration, with the president set to arrive on Capitol Hill to address a joint session of Congress.

In his speech, Trump is expected to outline an optimistic vision for the country, touting his intent to replace the Affordable Care Act, implement policies to help working parents and address national security.

White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney in many ways embodies the fiscal quandary Republicans face under Trump. As a conservative member of Congress from South Carolina, he fashioned himself a deficit hawk who opposed big increases in defense funding and advocated cutting spending for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other entitlement programs. Now he is overseeing Trump's effort to greatly increase military spending while offering no plan for entitlements.

Mulvaney said the spending priorities are intended to send a signal that Trump is seeking to fulfill his promises.

'We are taking his words and turning them into policies and dollars,” Mulvaney said.

Speaking at a gathering of governors Monday, Trump said the budget proposal would include 'historic” increases in spending to bolster the 'depleted military,” and said it would support law enforcement to reduce crime.

Democrats are gearing up to oppose Trump's agenda. Although the administration has yet to detail the reductions being contemplated, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. said they probably will affect key domestic programs.

'A cut this steep almost certainly means cuts to agencies that protect consumers from Wall Street excess, and protect clean air and water,” he said. Trump