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Trump Plans To Raise Defense Budget By The Billions

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- President Donald Trump promised to build up the military and now, the president says he will submit his first budget to Congress next month, with tens of billions of extra dollars in defense spending.

Democrats are criticizing the budget blueprint claiming cuts across the board will hurt the middle class.

"This budget will be a public safety and national security budget," said President Trump on Monday.

The White House said the president's budget will propose a $54-billion boost in defense spending by cutting cash for domestic programs and foreign aid.

"This defense spending increase offset and paid for by finding greater savings and efficiencies across the federal government. We're going to do more with less," said President Trump.

The president said he will talk about his budget, tax cuts and the replacement of 'Obamacare' during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Democrats are already reacting.

"The president will come to Congress with a populist message, in an attempt to cloak what has been a hard-right, anti-working person administration," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) Minority Leader.

The Trump administration is on the defensive amid reports some of the president's aides were in contact with Russian intelligence officials during the presidential campaign.

"We can't just go on a witch hunt against Americans," said Rep. Devin Nunes (R- CA).

House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said he will continue to ask for evidence of wrongdoing within reason.

"We can't have McCarthyism back at this place," said Nunes. "Chasing down American citizens, calling them before the Congress as if they're some sort of secret Russian agents."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is leading the FBI's investigation, but calls for an independent prosecutor are mounting.

President Trump also met with health insurance executives Monday morning to talk about the Affordable Care Act.  He warned the nation's healthcare system was in danger of imploding but, so far, the president has not offered details about how he plans to change it.

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