Defense budget in the federal budget: So much money

At the end of their report, the auditors made it clear: “It will be important to use the funds made available by Parliament effectively and responsibly,” says a letter from the Federal Audit Office to the Bundestag’s Budget Committee. In their report on the 2027 defense budget, the auditors point to arms inflation: increased demand and limited competition are causing sharp price increases in the industry.

Around 110 billion euros come from the core budget, which is expected to total around 555 billion euros - meaning that every fifth euro from the regular budget goes to the Bundeswehr. In addition, there is almost 30 billion euros from the special debt pot for the Bundeswehr, which was set up in 2022 as a result of the Ukraine war.

A look at the books makes it clear the sums that are being handled here: Due to a planning chaos between a Dutch shipyard and the Federal Ministry of Defense, it has long been clear that a major major project of the Navy, the construction of Class 126 frigates, can hardly be implemented.

There are therefore voices in the Bundestag calling for an end to the special debt rule for defense spending. So far, this criticism has come primarily from the opposition. “The debt-financed shadow budgets such as the special fund may only be reserved for temporary, exceptional situations,” said the defense policy spokesman for the Left, Ulrich Thoden.

This text first appeared in wochentaz, our weekly newspaper from the left!

The SPD MP Andreas Schwarz, as the budget manager for defense spending, is very critical of his minister Pistorius: "It's about what the money is being spent on and whether we are getting the right thing. We owe that to the troops and the taxpayer," he tells the taz.