The Trump administration is looking at cutting around $163 billion from areas like health and education, while planning to boost spending on defense, as outlined in the recent budget proposal from the White House.
In stark contrast to the reductions in social programs, they intend to increase the Pentagon budget by 13%, surpassing $10 billion. This move seems at odds with Trump’s repeated promises to pull back from what he calls “endless wars” in the Middle East and beyond.
This draft budget came out not only coinciding with Trump’s birthday but also alongside reports of a grand military parade intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army.
This story, in brief:
Trump plans to cut $163 billion in non-defense spending
Trump has proposed notable cuts to social sectors, like health and education, while significantly ramping up spending for the Department of Defense and Homeland Security.
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US military might host a parade for Trump’s birthday
Plans for a potential military parade, set for June to celebrate Trump’s birthday, could involve over 6,600 soldiers, around 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands, and perhaps a crowd of thousands.
At the same time, Fox News indicated that this parade, well-planned, is likely happening on June 14th. Interestingly, Trump himself was part of the US military when he turned 79.
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Supreme Court Justice criticizes Trump’s anti-judiciary rhetoric
Ketanji Brown Jackson, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, has condemned the Trump administration’s attacks on the judiciary during her speech to the Judicial Council.
Without directly naming Trump, Jackson highlighted “the elephant in the room,” referring to rhetoric perceived as a threat to judicial independence.
“Judges across the nation are facing increased threats of retaliation, not just physically but also for simply doing our jobs,” she said Thursday evening. “These attacks don’t appear random; they’re aimed at undermining our roles.”
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Trump orders funding cuts for public broadcasters
The President has signed an executive order aiming to slash public funding for national public radio and broadcasting, claiming bias against them. This directive, issued late Thursday, directs the board overseeing public broadcasting to “suspend federal funds” to these platforms.
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Trump officials agree to halt funding freeze for schools in Maine
The Trump administration has come to a decision not to freeze school funds in Maine, which many see as a win for those supporting transgender rights.
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Trump’s pardons cost the public $1 billion, says former official
A recently dismissed Justice Department pardon attorney claimed online that Trump’s recent pardons for white-collar criminals resulted in over $1 billion in debt being wiped out for wealthy Americans.
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US job growth better than expected despite tariffs
Recent numbers show a slowdown in US employment in April, with the addition of 177,000 jobs as Trump’s tough trade policies cast a shadow over the economic outlook. The White House is pushing forward with tariffs on various imports, asserting that these measures will boost the US economy, while employers continue hiring steadily.
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What else happened today:
This was the update for May 1st, 2025.
