Congress has passed a $1.5 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September, including $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine and a defense increase of nearly 5% over last fiscal year’s levels.
- Leo Shane III, deputy editor for Military Times, said there was a “pretty healthy increase” in the defense budget despite predictions to the contrary and that he will not be surprised if the trend continues in future years.
- Shane said the aid money for Ukraine includes reimbursement for what the Defense Department has already sent there (such as troops), along with new equipment, humanitarian assistance, economic support and sanctions against Russia.
- Other major areas of funding are research and development, new Navy ships and Air Force aircraft and money to address a water contamination problem near the Red Hill facility in Hawaii.
