War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday used a ceremony dedicated to renaming Joint Base Charleston in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham to urge Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion defense spending package, saying there would be “no greater tribute” to Graham than green-lighting the budget request.
Hegseth was joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other lawmakers from South Carolina for the unveiling of the military installation’s renaming in honor of Graham, who died unexpectedly last month. During his time at the podium, Hegseth pushed for roughly $1 trillion in spending for fiscal 2027 to be approved to cover the costs of the Iran war, as well as other defense needs.
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“As we gather here today, the War Department is seeking a historic, generational investment of $1.5 trillion for America’s warriors, and Lindsey himself said to me in his office, ‘This is the best military budget I’ve seen since I’ve been in Congress,'” Hegseth said. “This department pays tribute to Lindsey Graham in the naming of this base, but there could be no greater tribute that Congress could give than to invest in our warriors for the full $1.5 trillion.”
The Trump administration is pursuing what would amount to a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal 2027, though the base budget request is for $1.15 trillion. The administration is also seeking a $350 billion infusion through reconciliation, on top of a $87 billion supplemental budget request.
Hegseth recalled a conversation he had with Graham, a foreign policy hawk and U.S. Air Force veteran, in which the late senator asked what the secretary needed for reconciliation. After explaining the cost breakdown, Graham proposed $355 billion in reconciliation, Hegseth said.
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“He wanted to ensure our military was as equipped as humanly possible because he was thinking of places like this one right here,” Hegseth said. “I saw firsthand as a young first lieutenant, as a captain in a combat zone, and as a secretary, the unwavering commitment of Lindsey Graham, and he knew that if you’re going to seek peace, you have to be prepared for war.”
In addition to advocating his budget request, Hegseth championed Graham’s efforts to support warriors, recalling the times their paths had crossed over their nearly two-decade acquaintance.
