The defence budget is comprised of two bills:
The regular defence budget of $848bn and
funding from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (BBB) of $150bn.

The BBB act, with the extra defence spending, does come with significant caveats:
The BBB act is a republican tax and spending plan that is now law - it expands on the economic policies of “Reaganomics”, except that it is a one off bill.
It is argued by Trump that it will cut spending, incentivise investment, and put more money in the economy (The Economist 2025a).
But some argue otherwise.

Whilst it is true the tax cuts will benefit people, it will disproportionally benefit the wealthy. The Economist (b) explained it in two sentences:
"It extends existing, lavish, deficit finance tax cuts well into the future, and adds a few more for good measure, as well as boosting spending on defence and immigration enforcement." It also limits Medicaid access, abolishes Biden's green energy subsidies and food benefits. (The Economist a)

The BBB will result in net deficit of around $3 trillion over the next decade (Steedman 2025) and will drag America's GDP down over the long term (The Economist 2025a).

So what does a $961bn defence budget get you?
The Economist lists it below.

-$25bn for Golden dome project - the bill will fund the development of a network of missile defence systems. (Steedman 2025)

-$1bn for border security

-$9bn for "military housing subsidies", "improved health and education assistance"

-$40bn for stockpiling munitions/reserves/renovations

-$16bn for "scaling low cost weapons into production"

-$29bn procurement of 16 new warships

Trump has a passion for big guns and big numbers, but is blind sighted towards the welfare of the American people.

References

The economist D
---. “What Does a $961bn Defence Budget Get You These Days?” The Economist, 15 Sept. 2025, www.economist.com/united-states/2025/09/15/what-does-a-961bn-defence-budget-get-you-these-days.

The Economist C
The Economist. “Ten Charts to Explain Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill.” The Economist, July 2025, www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/07/01/ten-charts-to-explain-trumps-big-beautiful-bill.

Kenton, Will. “Reaganomics: Definition, Policies, and Impact.” Investopedia, Dotdash Meredith, 30 June 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/r/reaganomics.asp.

Drenon, Brandon. “The Key Items of House Republican’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”” BBC, 22 May 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0eqpz23l9jo.

Steedman, Elissa. “What Is the Big Beautiful Bill and Why Does Elon Musk Hate It?” Abc.net.au, ABC News, 5 June 2025, www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-05/what-is-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act/105378960.

The Economist b
---. “The Big Beautiful Bill Reveals the Hollowness of Trumponomics.” The Economist, 2 July 2025, www.economist.com/briefing/2025/07/02/the-big-beautiful-bill-reveals-the-hollowness-of-trumponomics.

The Economist a
The Economist. “Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Explained.” Www.youtube.com, 2025, www.youtube.com/shorts/0n_GcuOyzYM. Accessed 18 Sept. 2025.