The House-Senate split on defense spending levels became clear Thursday when the Senate Armed Services Committee authorized a roughly $45 billion increase to the administration’s defense budget request for fiscal year 2023.

The committee’s bill would authorize $817.3 billion for DOD, 10% higher than the current fiscal year defense spending. In a bill summary, the committee said the increase is to “address the effects of inflation and accelerate the implementation of the National Defense Strategy.”

Appropriators still need to agree.

In the House, appropriators are moving forward with the administration’s requested spending level of $753 billion for the Pentagon, as On Base reported. House appropriators and authorizers will hold separate hearings June 22.

House-Senate budget negotiators have not reached a deal on a spending framework for fiscal year 2023, including how much to allow for defense spending.

ADC photo by Will Noonan