US President Joe Biden said on Friday he has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024 into law, authorizing national defense spending and policies.
The document provides for the allocation of more than $880 billion for relevant programs of the Ministries of Defense and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the intelligence services, such as:
- 4.6 percent pay increase for military and civilian members of the Pentagon
- $30.3 billion for Department of Energy national security programs and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
- $378 million for other defense-related activities.
“The law provides the critical authorities we need to build the military needed to deter future conflict, while supporting servicemembers and their spouses and families who carry out this mission every day,” Biden said in the declaration.
The defense budget has set aside $800 million aid to Ukrainewhile the White House has requested the bulk of the spending for this purpose in a separate document pending before Congress.
The aid program to Ukraine includes $300 million under the Security Assistance Initiative. Under this program, the US Department of Defense contracts with manufacturers, instead of supplying Ukraine with equipment directly from the Pentagon’s stockpile.
The president also criticized provisions that would require him and other officials to submit reports to congressional committees with classified information, including information that could reveal intelligence sources or military operational plans.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill on December 14, while the Senate approved it on December 13.
Lawmakers passed the legislation despite concerns about an expansion of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 authorities, which Biden thanked Congress for including in his statement.
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