The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday released its version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize $857.6 billion in military spending for the 2023 fiscal year, a massive increase from the $813 billion President Biden requested.
Out of the $857.6 billion, about $817.3 billion will go to the Pentagon, $29.7 billion will go to the Energy Department’s nuclear weapons program, and $10.6 billion is allocated for military-related spending outside of the NDAA.
The Committee, which has 13 Republicans and 13 Democrats, approved the massive spending bill in a vote of 23-3. The increase from what Biden requested was expected as lawmakers wanted to tack on a 3-5% increase over inflation. Biden’s initial $813 billion request was a 4% increase from what was authorized for 2022.
The NDAA now goes to the Senate floor and will need to be reconciled with the House version in conference. The House Armed Services Committee has yet to release its version of the spending bill.
The House Appropriations Committee offered draft bills that gave the Pentagon $776.8 billion, but the House Armed Services Committee is expected to increase the budget. It’s not clear at this point if the House increase will be as significant as the Senate’s.
Some Democrats oppose raising Biden’s request, including progressives that want to slash the budget. But there is enough support among Democrats for an increase in the tens of billions to pass as most Republicans favor the idea.
Once approved, it will mark the second year in a row that Congress blows past what Biden has asked for. For the 2022 budget, the president requested $753 billion, which was ultimately raised to $782 billion.
I’m sure we’d all feel “safer” if they added another $143 billion to make it an even $ trillion.
You’ve got a good point Duane…$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!
It’s just an arbitrary number for them, and they make it whatever they want. Inflation and deficit be damned. Peace and life be damned. Democracy and debate be damned. The bipartisan war parties know that they can pass whatever “defense” budget they want.
Touche!
America no longer has a two party system. Both parties are the same with minor variations. Sadly there is no alternative to the Republican/Democrat oligarchs. They are all kleptocracy shills.
The powerful are extracting more and more from the subject population. The media feeds lies that keeps the extracted quiescent. The political class engages in theatrics claiming to be a representative democracy. THAT is the greatest lie of all.
I’m wondering if this is enough money… They might have to cancel the annual Weapons Day Parade…
The spirit of co-operation just brings tears to my eyes…But the price tag is killing me…
Why not? I suspect most Americans disapprove of this much military spending, or would if that much money could be put in perspective. But these Senators are safe, even though they routinely make decisions against the will of the American people.
I doubt that many in the U.S. pay attention to the numbers. They are enthralled by the flyovers and movies like Top Gun. Thanks to missteps by Biden, the recession should hit right about the time of the midterm elections. Real Estate loan interest will hit 7%. The Fed will raise rates again. A box of cereal (like what I am eating at the moment) will cost $8. Home values will plunge. Car prices will keep rising to make up for lost sales, causing a further plunge. Biden will keep yapping that it is all Putin’s fault.
https://russian.rt.com/ussr/article/1015787-minoborony-rossii-inostrancy-nayomniki-vsu
The status regarding Ukraine’s foreign mercenaries with rough numbers.
It was 25-1 last year. 23-3 is a step forward. How depressing is that?
They break their record every year…! Now 85 cents of every dollar of US taxpayer goes to Pentagon and MIC…!
Who were the 3 voting nay?
And why did they do so?
Maybe the bribe wasn’t big enough.
For all that money, could they actually defend the United States? My guess is no.
$$30 Billion for the nuclear weapons program? Is that why they broke all nuclear weapons agreements and refused to extend expiring agreements? What is going on in the heads of the Idiots in our so-called government. We are governed by idiots with the finger on the red button. They are scary mental health cases. Worth than an 18 year old with an AR-15, they are very dangerous sick people.