THIS WEEK: Trump's Shift to Military Spending

President Trump’s budget proposal is expected to be released this week.

Expect mainstream media to focus on the cuts in the budget, but don't for a minute think that it is going to result in a net shrinkage in government spending.

It is all about a shift toward military and domestic authoritarian measures.

Reports The Washington Post:

 Aides say that the president sees a new Washington emerging from the budget process, one that prioritizes the military and homeland security...

The federal government is projected to spend $4.091 trillion next year, with roughly two-thirds of that going mostly toward Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, poverty assistance and interest payments on the government debt. This spending is expected to be left untouched in the budget proposal next week. ( I expect the interest payments to be underestimated.)

What Trump will propose changing is the rest of the budget, known as discretionary spending, which is authorized each year by Congress.

According to WaPo, among Trump’s expected proposals are an increase in military spending of $54 billion, more money to start building a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico, and the creation of new initiatives that expand access to charter schools and other government educational programs.

To offset that new money, Trump will propose steep cuts across numerous other agencies.

Trump’s chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, has said Trump will lead a “deconstruction of the administrative state.”  That's true, but it will not be a shrinkage of government. Money will be spent on the military and other gun carriers. ICE, for example, is expected to be budgeted for 10,000 additional agents.

-RW