Biden signs $1.7-trillion funding bill with huge defense increase into law
Washington DC - President Joe Biden officially signed the $1.7-trillion government funding bill into law on Thursday.
The budget was approved by both chambers of Congress before Christmas.
About half of the omnibus bill signed off by Biden – almost $858 billion – is for defense spending, with $45 billion earmarked for assistance to Ukraine, marking an increase in what is already by far and away the biggest military budget in the world.
It provides slightly more support for the country's fight against Russia than the president had originally requested from the House and Senate.
Included is about $9 billion earmarked for military aid and nearly $16 billion for economic and humanitarian aid. In addition, $12 billion is planned to replenish the US military's ammunition stocks and warehouses following its deliveries to Ukraine. Another $7 billion is earmarked for additional spending by US troops in Europe.
Domestic spending makes up the other $772.5 billion of the budget.
Biden celebrates a win for his admnistration
The passage of the budget bill is a success for Biden's administration and the Democrats, avoiding a government shutdown that would have come into effect on Friday.
"Today, I signed the bipartisan omnibus bill, ending a year of historic progress," the commander-in-chief wrote on Twitter. "It'll invest in medical research, safety, veteran health care, disaster recovery, VAWA funding – and gets crucial assistance to Ukraine."
"Looking forward to more in 2023," he added.
Cover photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP