Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has urged the US Senate to approve President Donald Trump’s proposed USD 1.5 trillion defence budget, saying the funding is essential to prepare the US military for future security challenges and rapidly evolving warfare.
Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Caine said the armed forces require the additional funding to strengthen military readiness, support personnel, cover operational and maintenance costs, and accelerate investments in advanced technologies.
“I’ve come today to ask for your help and your support. America’s armed forces need USD 1.5 trillion to meet the military challenges of the future. This supplemental is a part of that,” Caine told lawmakers.
He stressed that time is a critical factor, warning that delays in funding could weaken the country’s ability to stay ahead of its adversaries. Drawing a parallel with former US Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall’s 1940 remarks, Caine said the United States now has the financial resources but limited time to prepare for emerging threats.
Highlighting the changing global security landscape, Caine said the US faces simultaneous military challenges in the Middle East, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific, along with persistent threats from terrorism. He also warned that rival nations are increasingly cooperating by sharing intelligence, military capabilities, and technology, making future conflicts more complex.
Caine pointed to rapid advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and unmanned technologies as key factors reshaping modern warfare. He said affordable drones and AI-powered systems are becoming widely accessible to both state and non-state actors, creating new security risks that require urgent investment in defence capabilities.
Referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Caine said the battlefield has demonstrated how emerging technologies are transforming combat and stressed that the US military must adapt quickly to remain prepared for future wars.
Backing the administration’s proposal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the budget as a “peace through strength” investment designed to modernise America’s military capabilities for the next generation.
Hegseth argued that President Trump’s defence strategy is focused on deterring conflict by ensuring the US maintains overwhelming military strength. He also criticised the previous Biden administration, accusing it of failing to prioritise defence spending and leaving the Pentagon facing years of funding shortfalls.
According to Hegseth, the proposed USD 1.5 trillion defence budget is intended to close those gaps, modernise the armed forces, and ensure the United States remains prepared to counter evolving global threats in an increasingly technology-driven security environment.
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