Biden budget release changed to May 28

The Biden administration now expects to submit its fiscal year 2022 budget request to Congress on May 28, not May 27, according to Rob Friedlander, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Democrats and the GOP are gearing up for a months-long budget fight, with top Senate Republicans calling for parity in defense and non-defense spending.

Key Democrats on the House and Senate Armed Services committees say they support Biden's defense topline, while Republicans seek an increase between 3% and 5%. More progressive Democrats seek a 10% cut to defense spending.

The Biden administration has set a $715 billion topline for the Pentagon and a total defense budget of $753 billion.

The total defense budget proposed for FY-22 is a 1.7% increase above the $740.5 billion enacted in FY-21. The Trump administration had projected $759 billion.

In FY-21, Congress enacted $704 billion for the Pentagon, making Biden's new proposal a slight decrease in real terms when adjusted for inflation.