As Congress launches into debate over President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation package – what he has dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” – much of the conversation has centered on government spending cuts and tax priorities. While those are indeed important aspects of this legislation, the bill also contains crucial measures to fully fund the military and invest in our national security.

That’s why, as a retired Air Force colonel and staunch advocate for military readiness as a deterrent to conflict, I’m throwing my full support behind the Big Beautiful Bill. President Trump’s approach is not just a numbers game – it’s a strategic vision that prioritizes America’s security, restores military readiness, and does so without breaking the bank.

The Big Beautiful Bill includes $150 billion in additional mandatory military spending, reflecting this president’s commitment to rebuilding a military that has been stretched thin by decades of overuse and underfunding. This money is a critical supplement to the $892.6 billion President Trump has already requested in his 2026 defense budget proposal.

Taken together, Trump is calling for total defense spending for fiscal year 2026 of approximately $1.04 trillion, a slight but targeted increase from prior years.

Importantly, however, the breakdown of how the Big Beautiful Bill allocates this extra defense funding shows that President Trump and Republicans aren’t just throwing money at the Pentagon and hoping for the best. Instead, they are addressing glaring gaps in our defense infrastructure and investing in military technologies of the future.

The $150 billion in the Big Beautiful Bill specifically includes $25 billion for President Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome for America,” a revolutionary missile defense shield modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome; $21 billion to restock the nation’s depleted ammunition arsenal; and $9 billion for service member quality-of-life issues like housing and healthcare.

The reconciliation package also includes $34 billion to build more ships and bolster America’s naval might. As I’ve written previously, the decline of U.S. maritime power is a serious crisis that needs addressing. Communist China has been building ships at a breakneck pace in recent years. This money will help ensure that the United States remains the dominant global power at sea.

The Big Beautiful Bill also ties defense spending to broader fiscal responsibility by including measures to claw back unspent funds from bloated domestic programs and redirect them to the military. This is a masterstroke – balancing a strong defense with the kind of fiscal discipline conservatives like me have long demanded.

Critics might cry about “cuts,” but reallocating wasted or misspent resources to protect our homeland isn’t a cut; it’s common sense. National security does not exist in a vacuum. We have a responsibility to find a way to bolster our military might without piling on debt.

Another crucial element on this front is fixing longstanding procurement issues, another priority addressed in the Big Beautiful Bill. Every taxpayer dollar spent on the military should go toward ensuring our warfighters have the best, most cutting-edge equipment in the world – and that they and their families are taken care of. As someone who’s seen firsthand how red tape can hamstring readiness, I applaud this focus on getting the most bang for our buck.

The corporate media has predictably nitpicked President Trump’s defense agenda. A recent Politico piece is indicative of the criticism, with the so-called “experts” questioning whether Trump can meet his ambitious spending goal of three percent of GDP on defense while keeping overall spending in check. I get the concern, but the doubters are missing the point. Trump’s plan isn’t about endless blank checks; it’s about leveraging America’s economic strength to fund what matters most.

Moreover, by slashing wasteful programs and boosting economic growth through deregulation and energy independence, Trump creates the fiscal space for a robust defense budget. The Congressional Budget Office projects GDP growth of 2.8 percent in 2026 under current policies. Trump’s pro-growth agenda could push that even higher, making three percent of GDP more than achievable.

This increased investment couldn’t come soon enough. China’s military buildup, Russia’s aggression, and Iran’s proxies aren’t slowing down. Our adversaries don’t care about Washington’s budget squabbles – they’re watching our resolve.

Trump’s plan sends a clear message: America is back, and we’re not messing around. The 2026 budget’s focus on naval expansion, including new Virginia-class submarines and unmanned systems, directly counters China’s growing Pacific presence. Investments in cyber warfare and space capabilities show Trump understands the 21st-century battlefield. Trump is committed to dominating the domains where future wars will be won or lost.

The naysayers – mostly establishment types and left-leaning pundits – will argue Trump’s plan is “too aggressive” or “unrealistic.” But they’re the same folks who cheered endless wars in the Middle East while letting our military atrophy.

Trump’s approach of peace through strength is different. A well-funded, modernized military deters conflict, saving precious American blood and treasure in the long run.

As a veteran, I’ve seen what happens when we shortchange defense – overworked troops, outdated equipment, and a weakened posture that emboldens our enemies. Trump’s 2026 defense budget, paired with the reconciliation bill’s fiscal guardrails, is a blueprint for reversing that decline. It’s bold, it’s necessary, and it’s rooted in a clear-eyed view of the world.

President Trump isn’t just funding a military. He’s funding America’s future as the world’s unrivaled superpower. Count me in.

Rob Maness is a retired Air Force Colonel, a former wing and squadron commander, veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, a survivor of the 9/11 Pentagon Attack, Graduate of the U.S. Navy War College and Harvard Kennedy School, a former U.S. Senate Candidate, Chairman of GatorPAC, CEO and Owner of Iron Liberty Group LLC, and Host of the Rob Maness Show on WorldViewTube.