Trump Tells Cabinet Departments to Propose 5% Cuts in Spending

  • Federal budget deficit soared to highest level in six years
  • Says he might allow exceptions but doesn’t elaborate

President Donald Trump

Photographer: Zach Gibson/Bloomberg
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President Donald Trump told his cabinet departments to propose spending cuts of 5 percent, after the federal budget deficit swelled to its highest level since 2012 during the first full fiscal year of his presidency.

Trump directed his cabinet secretaries to plan for the budget reductions during a meeting Wednesday after he invited in reporters. Trump, an advocate of higher military spending, said he might make exceptions but didn’t elaborate.