Plans outlined in the Pentagon’s Future Years Defense Program would cause the base defense budget to balloon to $735 billion (in today’s dollars) by 2033, according to new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.
The base amount requested for 2019 was $617, plus overseas contingency costs. It is expected to be higher when the administration sends its budget request to Capitol Hill mid-March.
“About 25 percent of the total growth from 2024 through 2033 would be in military personnel costs, 55 percent in [operations and maintenance] costs, and 20 percent in costs to develop and purchase weapon systems,” the report said.
Post-Leadership, McConnell Plans to Push for More Defense Funding
When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steps down from his Senate leadership role after the November elections, he’ll have at least two more years in the Senate. Now he’s signaled one of his priorities as a rank-and-file Senator is to increase defense funding,...
