Foreign Policy: Trump’s Defense-Heavy Budget Plan Sets Up Showdown With State Dept.
“President Donald Trump stunned U.S. diplomats and many security experts on Monday as he pledged what he called a ‘historic increase’ of $54 billion in military spending to be offset by cuts to the State Department and other federal agencies. U.S. officials said Foggy Bottom would be required to send a plan to the White House within 48 hours to cut as much as 30 percent of its budget, a bold proposal that would force the elimination of foreign assistance programs and a massive reorganization of the State Department…” (Hudson/O’Toole, 2/27).

New York Times: Trump to Seek $54 Billion Increase in Military Spending
“President Trump put both political parties on notice Monday that he intends to slash spending on many of the federal government’s most politically sensitive programs — relating to education, the environment, science, and poverty — to protect the economic security of retirees and to shift billions more to the armed forces…” (Shear et al., 2/27).

New York Times: Critics Assail Cuts in Foreign Spending as Trump Moves to Boost Military
“…[T]he proposed Pentagon increase has been greeted with criticism from military spending hawks, in part because White House officials say Mr. Trump will call for a significant cut in foreign aid, including programs that military officials say contribute to global stability and are seen as important in helping avoid future conflicts…” (Cooper et al., 2/27).

POLITICO: Diplomats worry Trump plans to starve State with cuts
“…The proposed cuts are the latest sign that Trump is bent on pursuing hard military power, not diplomacy or other ‘soft’ tools, as the main vehicle to advance U.S. interests abroad. It’s a stance that could put Trump at odds with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as Defense Secretary James Mattis, who once told lawmakers: ‘If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.’ Critics of the Trump budget plans noted that cuts to foreign aid could damage the U.S. standing in numerous strategically important countries…” (Toosi, 2/27).

ScienceInsider: Trump’s 2018 budget will squeeze civilian science agencies
“The chunk of the federal budget that includes most of the U.S. government’s spending on basic science would shrink by 10.5 percent in 2018 under a plan outlined today by President Donald Trump and administration officials. It is unlikely that all civilian science budgets would see cuts under the proposal — and some could even get increases…” (Malakoff, 2/27).

Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Is Set to Boost Military Spending
“…The funding request faces an uncertain fate in Congress, which must pass spending bills with 60 Senate votes and often adopts pieces of the president’s budget proposal while discarding others. Democrats are certain to oppose drastic cuts in nondefense spending, and Republicans are split between pressing for deficit reduction and higher military spending…” (Bender et al., 2/27).