Legislators Ask Biden to Increase Defense Spending by 5% Above Inflation

Forty Republican members of Congress have called on President Joe Biden to include in his fiscal year 2023 budget request a 5 percent increase in defense spending above the rate of inflation in light of increasing national security threats facing the country.

The House and Senate lawmakers wrote in a Wednesday letter to the president a number of national security concerns, including China’s military modernization, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and security risks posed by Iran and North Korea.

They urged the executive branch to use the budget request to pursue investments in programs that will advance force modernization and address readiness gaps.

In their missive, the legislators cited the need to enhance force proficiency on cyber and other combat domains, continue work at the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration to advance nuclear triad modernization, build up naval and projection forces and integrate innovations into missile defense, electronic warfare, space, air and sealift, munitions and other warfighting capabilities.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., ranking members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, were among the letter’s signatories.

Sponsor