Biden’s FY2023 military budget request is historically bad

Speaking Security Newsletter | Advisory Note for Activists and Candidates, n°146 | 17 February 2022

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Situation

Reuters reported yesterday that Biden is going to request $773 billion in military spending for his FY2023 budget. That’s less than the amount authorized for this year, but that was after Congress added $25 billion on top of Biden’s initial request. Congress will likely do the same this year, particularly after Biden approved of its increase this year.

Context

Here’s Biden’s reported FY2023 military budget request next to the last 9 presidential budget requests for military spending. Biden’s would be historically bad—it’s $60 billion higher than the average amount Trump requested for the same purpose, and $150 billion higher than the average military spending request Obama made during his second term.

Thanks for your time,

Stephen (@stephensemler; stephen@securityreform.org)

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