Trump’s 1st proposed budget boosts defense and intel, cuts foreign aid

The proposed US budget for 2018, released on Thursday, shows the intention of the Trump administration to sharply increase funding for the military, the Pentagon, homeland security and veterans affairs while slashing funds for the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department. Other government agencies designated for budget cuts are the departments of agriculture, labor, trade, education, transportation, energy and interior. The Defense Department's budget is to be boosted by 9 percent while that of the Department of Homeland Security, which is to fund the building of a wall on the Mexican border, is to be raised by 7 percent. In contrast, funding for the EPA and for the State Department is to be cut by 31 percent and 29 percent, respectively.