Every year, the President of the United States puts forth a budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. While a president’s budget proposal is largely symbolic, it shows Americans what the top priorities are for the administration.
Typically, the president’s budget proposal is rolled out in February each year, but it has been significantly delayed yet again. Just last week, President Biden put forth his budget proposal for the next fiscal year, and I was very disappointed with what I saw. His massive budget request significantly increases social spending while allowing our defense budget to fall behind the rate of inflation.
The Biden administration has not laid out its National Security Strategy, and that lack of guidance and weak leadership is reflected in his budget. Our military and defense need a bold, strategic, and long-term vision, and they need the resources to make it happen. The federal government has a basic responsibility to defend the United States from threats at home and around the world, and meeting these needs requires a continual investment in our nation’s defenses. Simply put, we can’t afford to allow ourselves to fall behind other nations.
The world is less safe now than it was a year ago, and threats to the security of the United States are continuing to increase. Between Vladimir Putin’s global aggression and his invasion of Ukraine, China expanding its hypersonic capabilities and having the largest arm and navy in the world, and Iran continuing to promote terrorism in the Middle East, there are simply too many growing threats on the global stage for the United States to fall behind.
The United States – and the entire world – are safer and more secure when the United States is properly equipped to address these threats. Unfortunately, President Biden is pushing for our defense funding to fall behind due to the record-high inflation his terrible economic policies have caused. Under his watch, we are losing our place as the economic and military superpower we need to be.
Last year, President Biden attempted to cut defense spending, but my colleagues and I on the House Armed Services Committee successfully fought back against these cuts. We were able to boost defense spending to keep up with inflation, meet our defense needs, and give a much-needed raise to our servicemen and servicewomen. Just like last year, I will work again this year with House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) and our committee colleagues to ensure we are fully funding our armed forces and giving our men and women in uniform the tools and equipment they need to keep our country safe and secure.
Jerry Carl represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. He lives in Mobile with his wife Tina.
