U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, August 10 used a ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to advocate for a $1.5 trillion defense spending package for fiscal year 2027. The event, attended by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and South Carolina lawmakers, marked the formal redesignation of the military installation as Joint Base Lindsey Graham.
During his remarks, Hegseth emphasized the budget request’s alignment with Graham’s legacy, stating that the late senator had previously endorsed the proposed spending levels. Hegseth cited a conversation with Graham, who died last month, in which Graham reportedly called the budget proposal the ‘best military budget I’ve seen since I’ve been in Congress.’ The War Secretary framed the budget as a tribute to Graham’s service as a U.S. Air Force veteran and his advocacy for military readiness.
The administration’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request includes:
- A $1.15 trillion base budget for fiscal 2027.
- An additional $350 billion sought through reconciliation.
- A $87 billion supplemental budget request, bringing the total to $1.5 trillion.
Hegseth highlighted the urgency of the funding, noting that more than half of U.S. Patriot interceptors had already been used in the ongoing conflict with Iran. He argued that the budget would ensure military preparedness, stating, ‘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 ceremony also featured remarks from Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), who attended alongside Hegseth and other officials. The redesignation of Joint Base Charleston reflects Graham’s long-standing ties to the military and his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.