FY2023 NDAA: Summary of Funding Authorizations

FY2023 NDAA: Summary of Funding Authorizations

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INSIGHTi

FY2023 NDAA: Summary of Funding
Authorizations
Updated December 30, 2022
Of the $827.0 billion requested in the FY2023 President’s budget for activities within the national defense
budget function, $802.4 billion fell within the scope of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2023 (NDAA; H.R. 7776; P.L. 117-263). While the NDAA generally does not provide funding (i.e.,
budget authority), historically it has served as an indicator of congressional intent on funding for such
activities. During deliberation of the FY2023 NDAA, Congress considered whether to authorize between
$37.0 billion (4.6%) and $44.9 billion (5.6%) more than the President requested. The enacted version of
the legislation authorized $45.0 billion (5.6%) more than the request (see Table 1), which comprised the
largest percentage growth between requested and authorized funding in the legislation over at least the
past decade (see Table 2 shows the difference between requested and authorized funding in the
NDAA over the past decade.
Table 2).
House-passed NDAA (H.R. 7900)
H.R. 7900 would have authorized $839.3 billion—$37.0 billion (4.6%) more than requested. The
legislation would have authorized additional funding for each Department of Defense (DOD)
appropriation title, including several billion dollars more than the request to cover inflationary effects.
According to CRS analysis of selected line items, these adjustments would have included $3.5 billion in
inflation adjustments to complete existing military construction projects, $2.5 billion for increased fuel
costs, and $800 million for an “inflation bonus pay” for certain military personnel.
During markup of the legislation in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Representative Jared
Golden offered an amendment to increase funding authorized in the bill by $37 billion. Golden said, “We
need only look to world events in Ukraine, read reports regarding China’s plans and actions in the South
China Sea, or simply read the latest headlines about Iranian nuclear ambitions and North Korean missile
tests, as well as ongoing terrorist threats in order to see why this funding is necessary to meet the security
challenges of our time.” Golden also said inflationary pressures were hampering the military’s ability to
procure equipment, invest in emerging technologies, and adequately pay and support personnel. The
committee agreed to the amendment, 42-17. Among those who voted against the amendment was
Representative Adam Smith, Chair of HASC, who said, “Making sure that the Pentagon has some fiscal
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discipline and is forced to make tough decisions and not just always rely on another pot of money coming
along is crucial to modernization.”
During debate of H.R. 7900 on the House floor, Representative Barbara Lee offered an amendment that
would have restored funding authorized in the legislation to the level requested in the President’s budget.
Lee said, “Americans are demanding that Congress rebalance our priorities and invest in the biggest
challenges which we face. This $37 billion could be better spent ... to extend the child and earned income
tax credit, improve healthcare access, and pay for Medicare hearing benefits for seniors.” The House did
not agree to the amendment, 151-277.
SASC-reported NDAA (S. 4543)
S. 4543 reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) would have authorized $846.9
billion—$44.9 billion (5.6%) more than requested. The legislation would have authorized additional
funding for each DOD appropriation title, including $13 billion more than the request for “inflation
effects.”
Senator Jim Inhofe, Ranking Member of SASC, described his amendment to increase authorized funding
for inflation and other purposes in part as “a demonstration of our commitment to our men and women in
uniform and our willingness to compete, deter, and if necessary, defeat any adversaries.” The committee
adopted the amendment, 25-1. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who opposed the amendment, has previously
said spending priorities are misaligned with threats facing Americans, such as Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19).
In Statements of Administration Policy on H.R. 7900 and S. 4543, the White House pledged to work with
Congress to set “appropriate and responsible levels” of defense and non-defense spending.
Enacted NDAA (H.R. 7776; P.L. 117-263)
The enacted version of the legislation authorized $847.3 billion—$45.0 billion (5.6%) more than
requested. The legislation authorized additional funding for most DOD appropriation titles, including
$18.9 billion—the largest increase of any title, in terms of dollar amount—for procurement (e.g., Navy
ships and aircraft, Air Force aircraft; Army missiles and tracked vehicles, among other programs). The
enacted FY2023 NDAA authorized $1.9 billion less funding than requested for military personnel (e.g.,
basic pay and housing allowances), driven in part by the reduction to Army active component authorized
end-strength by 21,000 soldiers below the Administration’s request, following the service’s recruiting
shortfalls in FY2022.
Table 1 shows funding authorized in the FY2023 NDAA for DOD-military activities (including by major
appropriation title), atomic energy defense programs, and certain defense-related activities.
Table 1. Summary of Funding Authorizations in FY2023 NDAA
(in billions of dollars of discretionary budget authority)
Title
President’s
House-passed
SASC-
Enacted
% Change
budget
NDAA (H.R.
reported
NDAA
(authorized-
request
7900)
NDAA (S.
(P.L. 117-
request)
4543)
263)
Procurement
$144.22
$160.20
$157.98
$163.15
13.1%
Research and Development
$130.10
$138.64
$137.75
$138.86
6.7%
Operation and Maintenance
$271.22
$274.27
$282.56
$278.79
2.8%
Military Personnel
$173.88
$174.54
$179.76
$172.02
-1.1%

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Title
President’s
House-passed
SASC-
Enacted
% Change
budget
NDAA (H.R.
reported
NDAA
(authorized-
request
7900)
NDAA (S.
(P.L. 117-
request)
4543)
263)
Defense Health Program and
$40.91
$44.31
$41.78
$44.36
8.4%
Other DOD
Military Construction and Family
$12.15
$16.47
$17.33
$19.49
60.3%
Housing
Subtotal, Department of
$772.48
$808.43
$817.15
$816.68
5.7%
Defense-Military (051)
Atomic Energy Defense
$29.50
$30.54
$29.71
$30.27
2.6%
Programs (053)
Defense-Related Activities
$0.38
$0.38
$0.00
$.38
0.0%
(054)
Total
$802.36
$839.35
$846.87
$847.32
5.6%
Source: H.Rept. 117-397 (Part 1) accompanying H.R. 7900, pp. 405-410; S.Rept. 117-130 accompanying S. 4543, pp. 380-
383; and explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 117-263 published in Part 3 of the 12/8/22 Congressional Record, pp.
H9527-H9530.
Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding. Dol ars rounded to nearest hundredth; percentages rounded to nearest
tenth. The “% Change" column is the percentage change between authorized and requested amounts.
Table 2 shows the difference between requested and authorized funding in the NDAA over the past
decade.
Table 2. Requested and Authorized Funding in the National Defense Authorization Act,
FY2014-FY2023
(in billions of dollars of discretionary budget authority)
% Change
President’s Budget
(Authorized-
Fiscal Year
Public Law (P.L.)
Request
Authorized
Request)
2014
P.L. 113-66
$625.15
$625.14
0.0%
2015
P.L. 113-291
$577.15
$577.15
0.0%
2016
P.L. 114-92
$604.21
$599.21
-0.8%
2017
P.L. 114-328
$607.98
$611.17
0.5%
2018
P.L. 115-91
$665.72
$692.10
4.0%
2019
P.L. 115-232
$708.11
$708.10
0.0%
2020
P.L. 116-92
$741.93
$729.93
-1.6%
2021
P.L. 116-283
$731.61
$731.61
0.0%
2022
P.L. 117-81
$743.09
$768.21
3.4%
2023
P.L. 117-263
$802.36
$847.32
5.6%
Source: CRS analysis of funding tables in conference reports or explanatory statements accompanying National Defense
Authorization Acts. Links to sources are embedded in figures.
Note: Dol ars rounded to nearest hundredth; percentages rounded to nearest tenth. The “% Change" column is the
percentage change between authorized and requested amounts.

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Author Information

Brendan W. McGarry

Analyst in U.S. Defense Budget

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