After receiving an overwhelming mandate at GE2025 to lead Singapore, PM Wong announced his Cabinet for the new Government term on 21 May – nearly two weeks after GE2025.
The Cabinet Ministers are usually appointed to head the various Ministries in Singapore. In the new line-up, three new coordinating Ministers were appointed.
There were also several promotions, to fill in the roles that were relinquished by Cabinet Ministers who gained new appointments, as well as those who retired prior to GE2025. Finally, there were also two new faces in the Cabinet.
Source: Prime Minister Office (PMO)
Singapore Budget Reveals The Estimated Spending For Each Ministry
During the Singapore Budget announcement each year, we not only get an overview of the new schemes, but can also see the estimated annual spending of each Singapore Ministry.
In the revenue and expenditure estimates for Budget 2025, the estimated total expenditure for FY2025 amounts to $123.79 billion. This is 9.6% higher than the actual expenditure in FY2024 – which came up to $112.91 billion. This itself was higher than the $105.31 billion spent in FY2023.
Against this backdrop of rising expenditure, we can also look at how much each Singapore Ministry is estimated to spend.
Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) To Spend $5.47 Billion
Mr Masagos Zulkifli heads the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), while Mr Desmond Lee is the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration under MSF. Ms Sun Xueling is the Minister of State for MSF, and Mr Eric Chua is Senior Parliamentary Secretary under MSF.
In FY2025, MSF is estimated to spend $5.47 billion, which is 19.6% higher than FY2024.
It takes $869 million to run the MSF, including for its manpower, operating expenses and allocating grants, subventions and capital injections to Organisations such as statutory boards, education institutions and other organisations.
The bulk of its spending or $3.85 billion goes towards Transfers – mainly for Family and Child Development programmes.
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) To Spend $23.44 Billion
Mr Chan Chun Sing is the Minister for Defence, while Mr Zaqy Mohamad is the Senior Minister of State for Defence and Mr Desmond Choo is the Minister of State for Defence.
In FY2025, MINDEF is estimated to spend $23.44 billion, making it the biggest spending for the Government. This is also 12.4% higher than what was spent in FY2024.
The bulk of the spending, worth $22.06 billion will go towards running costs, for manpower and operating expenditure.
Ministry of Education (MOE) To Spend $15.30 Billion
Mr Desmond Lee will head the Ministry of Education (MOE). Dr Janil Puthucheary and Mr David Neo are Senior Ministers of State for MOE, while Ms Jasmin Lau is the Minister of State for MOE. Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary under MOE.
In FY2025, MOE has an estimated expenditure of $15.3 billion, with about $10.00 billion going towards running costs and $4.17 billion is set aside for Transfers. Most of these go towards education institutions such as the Universities, Polytechnics, ITEs, Schools and Junior Colleges, SkillsFuture programmes and others.
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) To Spend $4.12 Billion
Ensuring clean, sustainable environment, and supply for water and safe food for Singapore, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) is headed by Ms Grace Fu. Dr Janil Puthucheary and Zaqy Mohamad are Senior Ministers of State under MSE, while Ms Goh Hanyan is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary.
MSE is estimated to spend $4.12 billion in FY2025 – with $2.65 billion going towards running costs. Another $1.47 billion will go towards Development Expenditure, of which over $1.07 billion will go towards National Environment Agency (NEA) programmes.
Ministry of Finance (MOF) To Spend $1.55 Billion
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) continues to be led by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawarence Wong. Ms Indanee Rajah is the Second Minister for Finance, while newcomer Jeffrey Siow is the Senior Minister of State for Finance. Mr Shawn Huang is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance.
MOF has an estimated spending of $1.55 billion in FY2025, which is 19.7% higher than FY2024. Most of this, or about $1.22 billion, will go towards running costs for manpower, operating expenditure and grants, subventions and capital injections to Organisations.
On top of this, there will be a $5.24 billion outlay for investments.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) To Spend $0.61 Billion
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is headed by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Ms Sim Ann is the Senior Minister of State for MFA, while Ms Gan Siow Huang is the Minister of State for MFA.
In FY2025, the MFA is estimated to spend $597.77 million – with the bulk of it going towards running costs. The total estimated expenditure in FY2025 is 11.8% higher than what it spent in FY2024.
Ministry of Health (MOH) To Spend $20.86 Billion
Mr Ong Ye Kung is the Minister of Health (MOH), apart from his role as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies. Mr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Tan Kiat How are the Senior Ministers of State in MOH, while Ms Rahayu Mahzam is the Minister of State for MOH.
In FY2025, MOH is expected to spend $20.86 billion – making it the second highest spending Ministry in Singapore.
Running costs will take up just $4.07 billion, while the bulk of the expenditure of about $14.73 billion will come in the form of Transfers – to individuals and institutions and organisations, for healthcare services.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) To Spend $9.20 Billion
Mr K Shanmugam is the Coordinating Minister for National Security, and also leads the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Mr Edwin Tong, who is Minister for Law, is also the Second Minister for Home Affairs.
Acting Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs, Mr Mohamad Faishal Ibrahim, and Ms Sim Ann are the Senior Ministers of State for MHA, while Mr Goh Pei Ming is the Minister of State for MHA.
In FY2025, the MHA is estimated to spend $9.20 billion, which is 8.3% higher than what it spent in FY2024. $7.91 billion will be spent on running costs, which include the Police Programme, Immigration and Checkpoint Control Programme, Civil Defence Programme, Offender Management and Rehabilitation Programme, among others.
Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) To Spend $3.06 Billion
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) is headed by Ms Josephine Teo. Mr Tan Kiat How is the Senior Minister of State for MDDI, while Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Jasmin Lau are the Ministers of State for MDDI.
MDDI is estimated to spend $3.06 billion in FY2025, which will mainly go towards running costs.
Ministry of Law (MinLaw) To Spend $0.45 Billion
Mr Edwin Tong is the Minister for Law. Mr Murali Pillai is the Senior Minister of State for MinLaw, while Mr Eric Chua is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for MinLaw.
In FY2025, MinLaw is estimated to spend $454.35 million. In contrast to most of the other Ministries, this is 29.5% lower than what it spent in FY2024. Most of the expenditure will go towards running costs.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) To Spend $3.70 Billion
Mr Tan See Leng continues to be Minister for Manpower (MOM). Dr Koh Poh Koon is the Senior Minister of State for MOM, newcomer Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash is the Minister of State for MOM, and Shawn Huang is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for MOM.
In FY2025, MOM is estimated to spend $3.70 billion – or 20.3% more than in FY2024. About $1.09 billion will go towards running costs, while the majority of the remaining sums, of about $2.42 billion, will mainly go towards Social Transfers to Individuals.
Ministry of National Development (MND) To Spend $9.30 Billion
Mr Chee Hong Tat heads the Ministery of National Development (MND), while Ms Indranee Rajah is the Second Minister for MND. Ms Sun Xueling is the Senior Minister of State for National Development, while Mr Alvin Tan is the Minsiter of State for National Development.
In FY2025, MND is estimated to spend $9.30 billion, or about 7.5% less than FY2024. Again, the majority of the spending will go towards running costs of the Ministry.
In addition, there is also a $10.18 billion set aside for Other Development Fund Outlays, mainly for Public Housing Development Programmes.
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) To Spend $7.19 Billion
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong is also the Minister for Trade and Industry (MTI). Ms Grace Fu is the Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, while Dr Tan See Leng is the Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology. Ms Low Yen Ling is the Senior Minister of State for MTI, while Mr Alvin Tan and Ms Gan Siow Huang are the Ministers of State.
In FY2025, the MTI is estimated to spend $7.19 billion, which is 19.9% higher than FY2024. Of this, $1.6 billion will go towards its running costs, while the $5.55 billion will go towards Development Expenditure, such as the Economic Development Board (EDB) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG).
Ministry of Transport (MOT) To Spend $15.33 Billion
Newcomer Jeffrey Siow is the Minister of Transport (MOT). Mr Murrali Pillai and Ms Sun Xueling are the Senior Ministers of State for MOT, while Mr Baey Yam Keng is the Minister of State for MOT.
In FY2025, MOT is expected to spend $14.73 billion, which is just 0.4% higher than the year before. About $2.76 billion of this will go towards running costs, while $11.93 billion will go towards Development Expenditure to the Administration Programme and Land Transport Authority Programme – to maintain and expand Singapore’s public transport network.
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) To Spend $2.78 Billion
Another newcomer, Mr David Neo is the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). Ms Low Yen Ling is the Senior Minister of State, while Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash and Mr Baey Yam Keng are the Ministers of State.
In FY2025, MCCY is expected to $2.78 billion or 8.4% higher than FY2024. A large chunk of it will go towards running costs, such as for the Sport Singapore Programme, People’s Association Programme, National Heritage Board Programme, National Arts Council Programme, Arts and Heritage Programme, and others.
