What happened
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has emphasized the importance of the proposed $1.5 trillion national defense budget, citing China's rapid military expansion as a major concern. Hegseth warned that China's buildup could be the most historic in world history, and that the US must invest in autonomous warfare and advanced technologies to stay ahead.
The Pentagon is seeking $54.6 billion for autonomous warfare, with $1 billion to come from regular discretionary funding and $53.6 billion dependent on additional mandatory funding legislation. The investment aims to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous weapons across the armed forces.
Hegseth also raised concerns about Chinese components used in drones operating in Ukraine, and announced plans for a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command to coordinate the development, acquisition, and deployment of autonomous systems across the military services.
Congressional funding for the defense budget remains uncertain, with the administration seeking $1.45 trillion for the Pentagon, including $1.1 trillion in discretionary funding. Hegseth stressed the importance of securing the additional funding in the coming months, warning that countries falling behind in military technologies could face an increasingly difficult competition.
