Subcommittee releases draft fiscal year 2019 NDAA totaling $674 billion in spending

A draft of the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) released Wednesday outlines $68 billion in spending for the global war on terror, $144 for military personnel and pay, and $245.9 billion for operation and maintenance, including key readiness programs.

The U.S. Department of Defense would receive $674.6 billion in total spending under the draft defense spending bill. That includes $605.5 billion in base discretionary funding, a $17.1 billion year-over increase. The draft bill was released by the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said it’s “absolutely imperative” that the military is properly trained, equipped and supported given “changing global dynamics and ever-growing threats to our country.”

“It is also critically important to support our men and women in uniform with the funding and resources they need to execute their missions, assist and protect our allies around the world, provide for their families, and ensure the current and future security of our nation,” Frelinghuysen said. “This legislation does all of this by including robust funding for our troops, the defense programs and activities necessary to accomplish our national goals and ideals, and to continue to rebuild our military.”

The draft NDAA also includes $92.4 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluation of new defense systems and technologies, a $2.9 billion year-over increase. The draft bill also includes $145 billion for equipment procurement and upgrades.

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Defense, said the draft NDAA marks a “turning point” in enabling the military to begin rebuilding after “years of declining military readiness.”

“This bill continues the progress we were able to make in FY18,” Granger continued. “It is a product of countless meetings and briefings with our military leaders and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the U.S. military is the strongest, most capable military in the world. Our military must have the resources it needs to respond to and deter threats from countries like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and also counter violent extremists throughout the world.”