US Congress Passes $886 Billions Huge Defense Budget for 2024
Defense News - On Thursday, the US Congress greenlit an astonishing defense budget of $886 billion for the fiscal year 2024, concurrently extending a contentious overseas electronic surveillance system extensively utilized by US intelligence agencies.
This comprehensive spending bill, endorsed in the House of Representatives following a prior Senate vote on Wednesday, allocates substantial funds to "strengthen US deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region," strategically countering China escalating influence in the area.
Furthermore, the legislation prolongs a military aid initiative for Ukraine, facilitating the gradual disbursement of $300 million to Kyiv. Although this amount falls short of the separate $61 billion plea put forth by the US and Ukrainian presidents to Congress for the year end—an expansive package earmarked for bolstering Ukraine military—the deliberation on this substantial request persists.
The bill also extends the duration of a law governing overseas electronic surveillance of foreign individuals by several months, a provision that has faced considerable censure from privacy advocacy groups and was on the brink of expiration. This program empowers US security services to conduct electronic surveillance, including email monitoring, on non-US nationals abroad without the necessity for a judicial warrant.
FBI Director Christopher Wray underscored the urgency of renewing this law, contending that allowing its lapse would equate to "unilateral disarmament."
In addition to the augmented defense budget, the legislation entails a noteworthy five-percent salary increase for military personnel. Notably, the bill omits supplementary measures proposed by Republicans, such as restrictions on abortion access for military personnel and a prohibition on flying the LGBT+ pride flag on Pentagon bases.
With its extensive content spanning over 3,000 pages, the document is now slated for final approval on President Joe Biden desk.
