Biden approves $777.7 billion defense bill after Congress passed it overwhelmingly amid protests
U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2022, which authorizes $770 billion in defense spending, the White House said.
Congress overwhelmingly passed the bill amid protests from progressives and anti-war groups who had advocated for cutting military spending. The US Senate passed the bill in an 89-10 vote, days after the House of Representatives had approved it in a vote of 363-70.
“The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense,” Biden said in a statement after signing the bill into law.
The $768.2 billion includes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and a statement of congressional support for the defense of Taiwan, measures intended to counteract China’s influence in the region. It also includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a show of support in the face of Russian aggression, as well as $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative.
It also includes a 2.7 percent pay raise for service members in 2022.
The increased top-line pays for 12 additional F/A-18 Super Hornets, five more F-15EX jets to bring the total to 17, and another five ships beyond the eight requested, including two attack submarines and two destroyers.