House Authorizes More Military Spending Than Biden and the Defense Department Requested – Mish Talk

More Than Requested 

Politico reports House Passes $839B Defense Bill, Swatting Down Biden’s Military Plans.

• The $839 billion National Defense Authorization Act, approved in a 329-101 vote, is $37 billion more than the administration sought in military spending.
• On top of the budget, the bill also rebukes several of Biden’s national security plans. Members maintained a nuclear cruise missile the administration planned to scrap, hampered F-16 sales to Turkey and limited the number of aircraft and ships the Pentagon can retire.
• The bill includes billions for more aircraft and ships than the Pentagon sought, following a bipartisan vote by the House Armed Services Committee to raise the bill’s price tag by $37 billion. 
• Funding continues for the development of a sea-launched nuclear cruise missile, a program the White House sought to kill.
• The bill authorizes 13 new warships, adding five ships the Navy didn’t request — an extra Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, another Constellation-class frigate, another fleet oiler and two expeditionary medical ships.
• The bill requires the Navy to keep five of the nine littoral combat ships it sought to retire.
• The bill also authorizes 64 F-35 fighter jets, three more than the Pentagon sought across the military services. 
• Lawmakers approved $354 million to procure three more F-35C carrier-based jets for the Navy.