The reviews are in: GOP lawmakers turn thumbs down on Biden’s proposed $886 billion defense budget
Jamie McIntyre
TOP STORY: The first thing to know about President Joe Biden’s proposed $6.8 trillion federal budget for the coming fiscal year, which would raise taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals and set defense spending at $886 billion, is that it will never become law.
The White House released scant details about the military portion of the budget. That will come in briefings at the Pentagon next week. And the president only got around to mentioning national security near the end of his rambling remarks in Philadelphia yesterday.
“Folks, we haven’t even talked about my budget for our national security or our intelligence and foreign policy communities,” Biden said. “My budget makes robust investments in our military and defense. Let’s see what the MAGA Republicans propose.”
“The budget requests $842 billion in discretionary budget authority for 2024, a $26 billion or 3.2% increase from the 2023 enacted level,” the 184-page budget document states. “This growth enables DOD to make the investments necessary to execute the administration’s 2022 National Security and National Defense Strategies.”
The proposal also includes a 5.2% pay raise for members of the military and defense civilians.
BIDEN UNVEILS $842 BILLION DEFENSE BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR
HERE ARE THE NUMBERS: The total defense spending includes the Pentagon, defense programs that are part of the Energy Department, along with various other “defense related activities.” Here’s how Biden’s proposal stacks up against what was actually appropriated the last two years:
IN BILLIONS FY24 FY23 FY22 DOD: $842 $816 $740 TOTAL INCLUDING DOE: $886 $858 $778 $ INCREASE: $28 $80 $38 % INCREASE: +3.2% +10.3% +5%
GOP LAWMAKERS: ‘ABSURD, UNTETHERED FROM REALITY’: Republicans on the Armed Services Committee wasted no time trashing the president’s Pentagon 3.2% increase, which fails to keep up with inflation while domestic discretionary spending would jump 7.2%, more than double the rate of increase for defense.
“A budget that proposes to increase non-defense spending at more than twice the rate of defense is absurd,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL). “The United States is facing the most complex and challenging set of threats to our national security in decades. Unfortunately, the President has once again submitted a budget request that fails to take these threats seriously.”
“For the third year in a row, the Biden Administration has submitted a foreign assistance budget that is completely untethered from reality,” said Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The president’s budget says it prioritizes countering China, but that is just convenient branding for climate and ‘green energy’ programs that have nothing to do with prevailing in our competition with China. Simply put, he’s missed the mark.”
“The President’s defense budget is woefully inadequate and disappointing,” said Roger Wicker (R-MS), ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Accounting for inflation, the president has now asked Congress to cut military spending for three years in a row, despite a worsening threat environment.”
All the Republican leaders pledged to plus-up the Pentagon budget in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. “We will continue to engage with DOD officials to determine what weapons, resources, and authorities our warfighters need to defeat the threats we face,” said Rogers. “Our adversaries will only be deterred by strength, not weakness.”
MONEYBALL FOR DEFENSE SPENDING?
DEMOCRATS: ‘A USEFUL STARTING POINT’: Even Democrats, who want to support their president, seem to realize Biden’s modest 3.2% increase request will not stand.
“This topline request serves as a useful starting point. I look forward to receiving the detailed budget request so we can get to work crafting a responsible, balanced National Defense Authorization Act,” said Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI). While noting that the president’s request “is among the largest in history,” Reed also said the threats posed by China, Russia, terrorism, and climate change “will require thoughtful, resolute defense resourcing.”
Adam Smith (D-WA), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said the president’s 2024 budget proposal “seeks to balance the need to ensure our ability to respond effectively to evolving defense challenges with a trained, ready, and capable military force while remaining respectful of the resources needed to meet America’s full budgetary needs.”
“I look forward to receiving further details in the coming days, and to working with my colleagues to craft a responsible and balanced National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024,” he said.
A CORRECTION, AN APOLOGY: In yesterday’s edition, I cited a topline figure of $835 billion for the Pentagon portion of the budget that came from a Bloomberg report from earlier this week. However, I failed to include an important nuance, namely that Bloomberg’s Tony Capaccio clearly reported the topline would exceed $835 billion. Later he told me he expected it to come in at around $840 billion, and indeed the actual number was $842. Tony’s reporting was spot on. Regrettably, mine was not. My apologies to Tony.
Of note, I calculated the increase at 2.3%, less than half the current annual inflation rate. The actual increase was 3.2%, exactly half the current inflation rate of 6.4%. New inflation numbers are due out next week.
SIX TAKEAWAYS FROM BIDEN’S BIG-SPENDING BUDGET PROPOSAL
Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Conrad Hoyt. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.
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24 HOURS OF MISSILES: Ukraine is scrambling to recover from what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called “a massive attack on our infrastructure.”
In a Facebook posting, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia fired a total of “95 rockets” from different locations, at times clustering the missiles in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. “34 missiles destroyed by our defenders. Also, the enemy inflicted 31 aviation strikes, including using 8 Bpla type Shahed-136, half of which were shot down.”
“Another attempt by the terrorist state to wage war against civilization has led to temporary power, heat and water outages in some of our regions and cities,” said Zelensky in his nightly video address. “Restoration work at power facilities has been ongoing all day.”
“Repair crews, power engineers, local authorities and the central government — everyone will work for as long as necessary to restore power supply to the cities and districts where there are problems,” he added.
Six civilians were killed in the attacks, according to Ukraine.
The Associated Press reported this morning that most of the power was back on in the capital of Kyiv, and the Institute for the Study of War predicted, “these missile strikes will not undermine Ukraine’s will or improve Russia’s positions on the frontlines.”
RUSSIA LAUNCHES ‘MASSIVE’ BARRAGE ACROSS UKRAINE
ON CNN, KIRBY ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION: In an early morning appearance on CNN yesterday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was being quizzed by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the barrage of missiles Russia launched into several Ukrainian cities overnight.
Collins asked Kirby if Russia was using any of its new Kinzhal hypersonic air-to-surface missiles, and while not confirming that, Kirby said it wouldn’t be the first use of hypersonic weapons by the Russians, adding, “It’s difficult to understand why you would need a hypersonic missile to hit a fixed building so far away when you have other means at your disposal.”
Asked if Ukraine’s air defenses had anything that can knock these Kinzhal hypersonic missiles out of the sky, Kirby replied, “Hypersonic missiles are generally very, very difficult to counter, and it wouldn’t surprise me that Ukrainian air defenses are limited in their ability to go after hypersonic missiles.”
And later in the interview, Kirby noted that the Ukrainians “were successful in knocking down quite a few” of the cruise missiles and drones. So, in other words, one reason Russia may be dipping into its hypersonic stockpile is to avoid Ukraine’s increasingly robust air defenses.
THE ISW TAKE: PUTIN’S GETTING DESPERATE: In its daily analysis of the Ukraine war, the Institute for the Study of War said it appears Putin “likely used these scarce missiles in fruitless attacks to appease the Russian pro-war and ultranationalist communities.”
“The Kremlin likely deliberately launched missiles that Ukrainian air defenses cannot intercept to achieve results within the Russian information space despite the dwindling supplies of such missiles,” saying Russia only has “up to 50 Kinzhal missiles” which it cannot replace.”
“Russian milbloggers and propagandists have also criticized the Russian missile campaign for failing to make Ukraine ‘freeze’ over the winter in late February and early March before the spring season,” the ISW said.
The group quoted the head of the Ukrainian state electricity transmission operator Ukrenergo as saying the massive missile strikes once again “failed to achieve Russia’s ongoing goal of destroying Ukrainian power supplies.”
CHINA’S XI GETS HIS 3RD TERM: To no one’s surprise, at today’s Ceremonial National People’s Congress in Beijing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping was unanimously elected to serve a third five-year term as the nation’s president, which at this point is tantamount to being “ruler for life,” given that he had a two-term restriction removed from the Chinese constitution.
“After more than a decade of serving as China’s top leader, Xi’s control over key levers of power gives him significant power and influence over most issues,” said Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, at this week’s Senate hearing on worldwide threats.
“Xi has surrounded himself with likeminded loyalists at the apex of the party’s Standing Committee, China’s highest decision making body, and we assess that during the course of Xi’s third term, they will together attempt to press Taiwan on unification, undercut US influence, which they perceive as a threat, and drive wedges between Washington and its allies and partners and promote certain norms that favor China’s authoritarian system,” Haines testified.
“In brief, the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] represents both the leading and most consequential threat to U.S. national security and leadership globally, and its intelligence specific ambitions and capabilities make it for us, our most serious and consequential intelligence rival.”
CHINA ‘UTTERLY COMMITTED TO UNIFICATION’ WITH TAIWAN, TOP US INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL SAYS
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Russia launches ‘massive’ barrage across Ukraine
Washington Examiner: Lloyd Austin urges Israel to step up aid to Ukraine
Washington Examiner: Biden unveils $842 billion defense budget request for next year
Washington Examiner: Six takeaways from Biden’s big-spending budget proposal
Washington Examiner: Moneyball for defense spending?
Washington Examiner: China ‘utterly committed to unification’ with Taiwan, top US intelligence official says
Washington Examiner: Chinese companies aiding Iran in supplying drones to Russia, US says
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Washington Examiner: Opinion: Intelligence community testimony shows America is less safe under Biden
Washington Examiner: Opinion: How Biden’s defense budget request fails the China test
New York Times: Russia Fires Hypersonic Missiles In Largest Air Assault in Weeks
Politico: Eyeing China, Pentagon Asks Congress to Boost Funds for Pacific Forces
New York Times: Australia To Buy Nuclear-Powered Subs From U.S. In A Deal To Counter China
AP: Kim supervises N. Korean troops simulating attack on South
Yonhap: U.S. Intensifying ‘Every Leg Of Nuclear Triad’ To Ensure Deterrence – Gen. Cotton
USNI News: Chinese Rocket That Delivered Military Spy Satellites Breaks Up Over Texas
CNN: Russia has been sending some US-provided weapons captured in Ukraine to Iran, sources say
Defense One: Pentagon Looking to Make Sure SpaceX Doesn’t Abandon Them in War
19fortyfive.com: The F-15EX Fighter Could Fire Hypersonic Missiles at China or Russia
Navy Times: Aircraft Carrier Ford Embarks With Full Air Wing For First Time
19fortyfive.com: China’s Navy: On the Verge Of Being an Aircraft Carrier Superpower?
USNI News: FY2024 Budget: Navy Won’t Buy Any More San Antonio Amphibs In The Next Five Years
Seapower Magazine: Amphibious Warfare Industrial Base Coalition Advocates For 31 Amphibs
19fortyfive.com: What NATO Fighter Jets Could be Sent to Ukraine?
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Faces 10 Percent Recruiting Shortfall in 2023—And Long-Term ‘Headwinds’
Military.com: DOD’s Top Doc Calls on Congress to Overturn Law Limiting Discussions on Guns with Service Members
The Drive: USAF Testing ‘Mutant’ Missiles That Twist in Mid-Air to Hit Their Targets
Defense News: Gulf Nations Summon Sea Drones To Curb Illicit Trafficking
Defense News: Air Force Chief Wants to Take ‘Wrecking Ball’ to Service’s Bureaucracy
Defense Scoop: From Z-Grams to C-Notes: Inside Gen. Saltzman’s Unique Approach to Leading America’s Digitally Focused Space Force
Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Air Force Force Generation Model Will Stop ‘Crowdsourcing’ Deployments
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Ground-Penetrating Radar and AR Guide Airmen to Spark Tank Win
The Cipher Brief: Is China Coming to Russia’s Rescue in Ukraine?
Calendar
FRIDAY | MARCH 10
8:15 a.m. 11493 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, Va.— Government Executive Media Group Power Breakfast discussion: “Doing Business with the Air Force,” focusing on artificial intelligence and information technology, with Air Force Deputy Chief Information Officer Winston Beauchamp https://washingtontechnology.com/feature/Doing-Business-with-the-Air-Force/
9 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing: “U.S. and Adversary Hypersonic Programs,” with testimony from Michael White, principal director for hypersonic, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (Modernization); Michael Horowitz, director, DOD Emerging Capabilities Policy Office; Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director, strategic systems programs, U.S. Navy; Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch, director, hypersonics, directed energy, space, U.S. Army; Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, military deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; and Paul Freisthler, chief scientist for science and technology, Defense Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/strategic-forces
10 a.m. — U.S. Institute of Peace virtual discussion: “Are China’s Intentions Toward Taiwan Changing?” with Alexander Chieh-cheng Huang, professor, Tamkang University’s Institute of Strategic Studies; Phil Saunders, director, National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs; Joel Wuthnow, senior research fellow, National Defense University Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs; Andrew Scobell, distinguished fellow, USIP; and moderator Jennifer Staats, director, East and Southeast Asia Programs, USIP https://www.usip.org/events/are-chinas-intentions-toward-taiwan-changing
10 a.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Support for Ukraine’s Defense in the 118th Congress,” with Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) https://www.hudson.org/events/support-ukraine-defense-118th-congress
TUESDAY | MARCH 14
3 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues discussion: “The IAEA Mission in Ukraine: A Conversation with Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi,” with Heather Williams, director, Project on Nuclear Issues and senior fellow, International Security Program, CSIS https://www.csis.org/events/iaea-mission-ukraine-conversation
MONDAY | MARCH 20
10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies “Aerospace Nation” webinar with Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander, Pacific Air Forces, air component commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Register: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/march-20
THURSDAY | MARCH 23
TBA 2123 Rayburn — House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, with testimony from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew http://energycommerce.house.gov
MONDAY | MARCH 27
10 a.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave, — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in-person event: “The Iraq War Series: Operation Iraqi Freedom,” with Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser; Robert Kagan, senior fellow, Brookings Institution; Melvyn Leffler, professor of history emeritus, University of Virginia; Danielle Pletka, distinguished senior Fellow, AEI; and Gary Schmitt, senior fellow, AEI https://www.aei.org/events/the-iraq-war-series-operation-iraqi-freedom
QUOTE OF THE DAY “The United States is facing the most complex and challenging set of threats to our national security in decades. Unfortunately, the president has once again submitted a budget request that fails to take these threats seriously. A budget that proposes to increase non-defense spending at more than twice the rate of defense is absurd. The president’s incredibly misplaced priorities send all the wrong messages to our adversaries.” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL)