The Trump administration has directed the Pentagon to prepare a $573 billion fiscal year 2018 budget proposal -- a spending target that would amount to a $17 billion increase, or 3 percent hike, compared to the Obama administration's plan and would exceed current statutory spending allowed for the Defense Department by $51 billion. On Feb. 27, the White House Office of Management and Budget announced plans to increase defense spending by $54 billion in FY-18 above the $549 billion cap...
