The federal government is preparing to spend $1.7 trillion next year. According to the newly released 2023 omnibus spending package, taxpayer dollars are being split, with $772.5 billion for non-defense spending and $858 billion in defense funding for the military.
Congress is currently negotiating the final details and the numbers may change slightly. But lawmakers need to pass the bill by Friday or there will be a government shutdown. The bill funds the entire federal government through September 2023.
Here’s a look at how Congress wants to spend taxpayer money next year:
Bipartisan victories:
- Up to $45 billion in Ukraine aid, including both humanitarian and military assistance
- $40 billion for natural disaster assistance for victims of storms and wildfires
- Nearly $119 billion for VA medical care
Democratic priorities:
- $15 billion dollars to support low income, rural and elderly Americans and those at risk of homelessness
- More than $34 billion for public schools and college access and affordability
- Increase maximum Pell Grant by $500 to $7,395 which could impact 7 million students
- $22.1 billion for “protecting the environment,” including funding for the EPA and National Park Service, energy efficiency and clean energy
- $8 billion to help low income families access child care
Republican priorities:
- 10% increase in defense funding to pay for ships, aircraft and vehicles, along with improvements in artificial intelligence, 5G and quantum computing
- The Hyde Amendment is included, which prohibits federal funds from paying for abortion, with some exceptions like rape, incest and risks to the mother’s health
- $82 billion for homeland security, including $7.1 billion for the Border Patrol
- A non-spending related measure from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Ark., to ban the social media app TikTok on government devices
The final details are still being negotiated, but even if some of these numbers change slightly, Friday’s deadline does not.
Interested in reading more about the more than 4,000-page bill? Here are rundowns from Democrats and Republicans.
