Dec 28 Biden authorizes $768.2 billion in defense spending, a 5 percent increase By Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press President Joe Biden has signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022. Continue reading
Sep 13 Study says nearly half of defense spending for 9/11 wars went to private contractors By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press In the post-9/11 wars, U.S. corporations contracted by the Defense Department not only handled logistics like running fuel convoys and staffing chow lines but performed mission-crucial work like training and equipping Afghan security forces. Continue reading
Feb 14 Esper defends shifting defense funds for Trump’s border wall By Robert Burns, Associated Press Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, but Mexico refused. Continue reading
Feb 13 Trump to transfer $3.8 billion from military to fund border wall By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Thursday's move by the Pentagon angered not just Democrats but also GOP defense hawks. Continue reading
Mar 22 Watch 4:27 Another spending bill cliffhanger may come down to a single senator By PBS News Hour The House of Representatives passed the mammoth $1.3 trillion spending bill on Thursday, in order to avert a government shutdown on Friday. What will its fate be in the Senate? And will Sen. Rand Paul force a shutdown? John Yang… Continue watching
Nov 14 House approves $700 billion defense bill By Richard Lardner, Associated Press The funding boost pays for more troops, jet fighters, ships and other weapons needed to halt an erosion of the military’s combat readiness, according to the bill’s backers. Continue reading
Sep 18 Senate passes bill to pump $700 billion into military By Richard Lardner, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Senate has overwhelmingly approved a sweeping policy bill that would pump $700 billion into the military, putting the U.S. armed forces on track for a budget greater than at any time during the decade-plus wars in Iraq… Continue reading
Jun 26 Armed Services panel chairman seeks $696 billion DOD budget By Richard Lardner, Associated Press An influential House committee chairman pressed his case Monday for $696 billion defense budget in 2018 — more military spending than at any point during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Continue reading
May 22 Watch 2:29 Cuts to Medicaid, social safety net expected in Trump budget By PBS News Hour The Trump administration will release its first full budget plan Monday, laying out the president’s priorities for spending and taxes. Early reporting suggests Mr. Trump's proposal will feature some big changes and substantial cuts. Congress has the final say, but… Continue watching
Dec 06 Watch 7:13 Why the Pentagon ‘buried and killed’ a study on potential cost savings By PBS News Hour Leaders at the Department of Defense periodically conduct efficiency reviews, looking for ways to cut costs. One such report, ordered by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work in 2014, was scrapped after it identified wasteful spending and suggested measures to… Continue watching