U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) was among 28 House Armed Services Committee lawmakers that called on President Joe Biden to increase the national defense budget for 2023.
On March 28, Biden presented his proposed $5.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2023, which includes a requested $773 billion in discretional funding for the U.S. Department of Defense. The president’s request reflects the growing security and economic concerns at home and overseas. A number of Republicans have requested Biden increase the defense budget by 5% over the rate of inflation.
“This will be among the largest investments in our national security in history,” Biden said, according to a press release from the White House. “Some people don’t like the increase, but we’re in a different world today. America is more prosperous, more successful and more just when it is more secure.”
The president’s budget proposal would raise taxes on billionaires and corporations. Besides increases to military spending, it would also prioritize spending on domestic priorities including affordable housing and supply chain issues.
According to Fox News, Mike Rogers, the ranking member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, teamed up with Sen. Jim Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to lead Republicans in urging Biden to increase the defense budget by 5% over the rate of inflation. All 28 Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee have argued that the country “cannot afford to shortchange” national security amid “unprecedented threats” facing the United States.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) warned that Biden’s proposed defense budget is “at least a 4% cut in real dollar spending power,” after adjusting “for the ‘official’ 8% inflation rate.” Similarly, House Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who also sits on the committee, said the president’s budget “once again cuts the size of our military in the heart of a national security crisis.”
Democrat lawmakers have also expressed their displeasure with Biden’s defense budget. Democrat Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia tweeted: “I have delayed putting out a statement about the defense budget because frankly it would have been mostly full of words you might expect from a sailor, but here goes: It sucks.”
