On Monday, President Joe Biden released his $5.8 trillion budget proposal for 2023.
In a statement, Biden called it "one of the largest investments in our national security in history," adding it would ensure the U.S. military "remains the best-prepared, best-trained, best-equipped military in the world."
Alabama's Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa), the vice-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, rejected Biden's claim it bolstered defense spending and warned such a proposal does not address the threats from Russia and China.
"After his budget request last year was roundly rejected in Congress, the President has again proposed a fiscal blueprint that overspends on wasteful domestic programs and fails to adequately provide for our nation's defense," Shelby said in a statement on Monday. "In other words, more of the same. The Biden budget increases non-defense spending by nearly $100 billion while defense spending does not even keep pace with the skyrocketing rate of inflation. Also, as illegal border crossings occur at record rates, the President actually proposes a cut in spending for border security.
"We live in an increasingly dangerous world," the statement continued. "Today's security environment demands a level of investment that will meet and defeat the threat. It's time for the Administration to get serious about addressing the threat posed by Russian aggression and the growing worldwide ambitions of the People's Republic of China. I am disappointed that the Administration chose not to build on Congress's FY22 bipartisan work. Once again, this request puts us on the wrong foot to start the fiscal year 2023 cycle, and it does not bode well for the coming appropriations process."
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