U.S. President Joseph Biden signed a $768 billion bill on December 27, authorizing funding for the Department of Defense in the fiscal year 2022.
The bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), includes $740 billion for the Department of Defense and $28 billion for the Pentagon and nuclear weapons programs managed by the Department of Energy.
The U.S. Senate approved the bill by 89 to 10 votes on December 15, after the House of Representatives passed the bill by 363 to 70 votes.
In addition to the strategy to counter rising threats from Russia and China, the NDAA includes increased military spendings and procurement of additional aircraft and naval vessels. An increase of $25 billion to the originally requested budget includes a 2.7% salary increase for the soldiers, modifications to the ways the army prosecutes certain crimes of sexual misconduct, and an independent committee to review the two-decade war in Afghanistan.
After signing the bill into law, President Biden stated: “The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense.”
This is the 61st consecutive year that Congress and the President have approved the comprehensive defense policy bill. The authorization of about a five percent increase in military spending than the previous year was reached after fierce negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.
The NDAA also includes $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative and $150 million for Baltic security cooperation, as well as $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support to Ukraine’s armed forces.
The bill also includes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to deal with China-related threats, and a statement of congressional support for supporting Taiwan’s defense, as well as a prohibiting the Department of Defense from purchasing products that have been produced with forced labor from China.
House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash) said “There’s a lot to be proud of in this bill… Ultimately, this year’s NDAA focuses on what makes our country strong: our economy, diversity, innovation, allies and partners, democratic values, and our troops.”
The United States defense budget is by far the largest in the world, more than three times that of the second-largest military spending country, China.
With the increase in the budget, the Department of Defense would be able to acquire 12 additional F/A-18 Super Hornets, five additional F-15EX fighters, bringing the total number to 17, as well as adding five ships, including two destroyers and two attack submarines.
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-R.I.) praised the bill for its investment in new technologies such as hypersonic, AI, and quantum computing, and its focus on U.S. strategic competition with China.
Jack Reed also emphasized that $13 billion in the bill will be used to fund submarine research, development, and production. According to Reed, it would also support U.S. suppliers, workers, and businesses in Rhode Island.
