The Senate Appropriations Committee voted today to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill, paving the way for a full Senate vote on the funding measure designed to enhance national security, devote more funding to several hot-button tech areas, and provide servicemembers with a pay bump.
The bill passed the committee on a unanimous vote of 28-0.
The bill allocates a total of $852.2 billion in funding, reflecting a $27.2 billion increase over FY 2024 spending levels and exceeding the President’s initial defense budget request by nearly $2.4 billion.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, emphasized during today’s committee markup the importance of passing a timely defense appropriations bill for FY2025 – and improving on Congress’ failure to do so for FY2024 funding.
“We know better than anyone the devastating effects of continuing resolutions and government shutdowns. Last year’s defense budget was finalized six months late, leaving our sailors, soldiers, Airmen, Marines, and space guardians fighting with one hand tied behind their backs,” Sen. Tester said.
“This bill provides funding for recruiting and training of our military officers … [and it] invests in modernization of our nuclear triad and outdated weapon systems and helps the DoD innovate with modern technology,” he added.
“Overall, this bill provides $852.2 billion for the Department of Defense and for our intelligence community … it strengthens our military across all domains, in the air, on land, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Enhancing Military Readiness
Overall, the bill allocates $2 billion above the President’s budget request to enhance military readiness across the services. It designates $1.9 billion more than requested to counter Chinese influence in the INDO-PACOM region, with investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and hypersonic technologies. Additionally, it provides $500 million above the budget request for the adoption and implementation of AI capabilities at the Combatant Commands.
It also supports the Army’s development of next-generation counter-small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) missiles and increases counter-UAS funding by $394.8 million, as well as provides the Army with greater funding flexibility to address evolving UAS threats.
For the Air Force, the bill allocates $42 million for research related to quantum technologies and AI, which aims to enhance the Air Force’s capabilities in critical areas of defense.
The bill also adds over $1 billion to address “classified unfunded requirements for the Space Force,” the bill summary states. This funding will support initiatives for space control capabilities, nuclear electric propulsion, and commercial sensing, ensuring that the Space Force can effectively meet its strategic objectives.
Building Up the Defense Industrial Base
The bill also allocates $500 million above the President’s budget request for Defense Production Act investments in the defense industrial base, focusing on microelectronics, critical chemicals, and hypersonics. Additionally, it includes $400 million more than requested for the Manufacturing Technology Program to enhance advanced manufacturing efforts.
Servicemembers Receive Pay Bump
Finally, the bill fully funds the 4.5 percent pay raise for servicemembers requested in the President’s budget. It also provides additional funding for junior enlisted personnel to support a larger 5.5 percent pay raise, as authorized in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
The House approved its version of the FY2025 defense spending bill on June 13, with a top-line discretionary spending figure of $833 billion. Differences in the House and Senate bills will have to be reconciled before the chambers eventually vote on final passage of FY205 funding for the Defense Department.
