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Military budget of the United States

Updated: Wikipedia source

Military budget of the United States

The military budget of the United States is the largest portion of the discretionary federal budget allocated to the Department of Defense (DoD), or more broadly, the portion of the budget that goes to any military-related expenditures. It pays the salaries, training, and health care of uniformed and civilian personnel, maintains arms, equipment and facilities, funds operations, and develops and buys new items. The budget funds the six branches of the US military: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force. Critics contend that recent U . defense budgets have disproportionately invested in long-term developmental programs instead of producing weapons systems needed in the near term.

Tables

· Budget for FY2021 › Budget summary for FY2021 with projections for FY2022–2025
Base
Base
Function and subfunction
Base
FY2019 total
OCO
FY2020
Emergency
FY2020
Total
FY2020
Base
FY2020
OCO
FY2021
Total
051 - DoD discretionary
051 - DoD discretionary
Function and subfunction
051 - DoD discretionary
Military personnel (no MERHFC)
Military personnel (no MERHFC)
Function and subfunction
Military personnel (no MERHFC)
FY2019 total
141,851
FY2020
142,446
FY2020
4,486
FY2020
146,932
FY2021
150,524
FY2021
4,603
FY2021
155,126
FY2022 total
158,117
FY2023 total
162,796
FY2024 total
167,495
Operation and maintenance
Operation and maintenance
Function and subfunction
Operation and maintenance
FY2019 total
281,801
FY2020
234,885
FY2020
53,735
FY2020
977
FY2020
289,597
FY2021
230,352
FY2021
58,569
FY2021
288,921
FY2022 total
279,501
FY2023 total
282,530
FY2024 total
296,585
Procurement
Procurement
Function and subfunction
Procurement
FY2019 total
146,533
FY2020
131,734
FY2020
11,590
FY2020
431
FY2020
143,754
FY2021
131,756
FY2021
5,128
FY2021
136,884
FY2022 total
137,746
FY2023 total
149,108
FY2024 total
157,060
RDT&E
RDT&E
Function and subfunction
RDT&E
FY2019 total
95,304
FY2020
103,520
FY2020
834
FY2020
130
FY2020
104,485
FY2021
106,225
FY2021
331
FY2021
106,555
FY2022 total
104,839
FY2023 total
101,821
FY2024 total
100,254
Revolving and management funds
Revolving and management funds
Function and subfunction
Revolving and management funds
FY2019 total
1,873
FY2020
1,564
FY2020
20
FY2020
234
FY2020
1,818
FY2021
1,349
FY2021
20
FY2021
1,369
FY2022 total
1,347
FY2023 total
1,358
FY2024 total
1,381
DoD bill (no MERHFC)
DoD bill (no MERHFC)
Function and subfunction
DoD bill (no MERHFC)
FY2019 total
667,362
FY2020
614,149
FY2020
70,665
FY2020
1,772
FY2020
686,586
FY2021
620,206
FY2021
68,651
FY2021
688,855
FY2022 total
681,550
FY2023 total
697,613
FY2024 total
722,775
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
Function and subfunction
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
FY2019 total
7,533
FY2020
7,817
FY2020
7,817
FY2021
8,373
FY2021
8,373
FY2022 total
8,819
FY2023 total
9,270
FY2024 total
9,752
DoD bill with MERHFC
DoD bill with MERHFC
Function and subfunction
DoD bill with MERHFC
FY2019 total
674,895
FY2020
621,966
FY2020
70,665
FY2020
1,772
FY2020
694,403
FY2021
628,579
FY2021
68,651
FY2021
697,228
FY2022 total
690,369
FY2023 total
706,883
FY2024 total
732,527
Military construction
Military construction
Function and subfunction
Military construction
FY2019 total
11,332
FY2020
9,850
FY2020
645
FY2020
6,229
FY2020
16,723
FY2021
6,462
FY2021
350
FY2021
6,812
FY2022 total
10,036
FY2023 total
8,623
FY2024 total
8,379
Family housing
Family housing
Function and subfunction
Family housing
FY2019 total
1,565
FY2020
1,465
FY2020
1,465
FY2021
1,351
FY2021
1,351
FY2022 total
1,497
FY2023 total
1,556
FY2024 total
1,649
Military construction bill
Military construction bill
Function and subfunction
Military construction bill
FY2019 total
12,897
FY2020
11,315
FY2020
645
FY2020
6,229
FY2020
18,188
FY2021
7,813
FY2021
350
FY2021
8,163
FY2022 total
11,533
FY2023 total
10,179
FY2024 total
10,028
Allowances
Allowances
Function and subfunction
Allowances
FY2019 total
38
Outyears placeholder for OCO
Outyears placeholder for OCO
Function and subfunction
Outyears placeholder for OCO
FY2022 total
20,000
FY2023 total
20,000
FY2024 total
10,000
051 - Total DoD discretionary (DoD record)
051 - Total DoD discretionary (DoD record)
Function and subfunction
051 - Total DoD discretionary (DoD record)
FY2019 total
687,830
FY2020
633,281
FY2020
71,310
FY2020
8,000
FY2020
712,591
FY2021
636,392
FY2021
69,000
FY2021
705,392
FY2022 total
721,902
FY2023 total
737,063
FY2024 total
752,555
Scoring and rounding
Scoring and rounding
Function and subfunction
Scoring and rounding
FY2019 total
22
FY2020
5
051 - Total DoD discretionary (OMB record)
051 - Total DoD discretionary (OMB record)
Function and subfunction
051 - Total DoD discretionary (OMB record)
FY2019 total
687,852
FY2020
712,596
FY2021
705,392
FY2022 total
721,902
FY2023 total
737,063
FY2024 total
752,555
051 - DoD mandatory
051 - DoD mandatory
Function and subfunction
051 - DoD mandatory
Military personnel
Military personnel
Function and subfunction
Military personnel
FY2019 total
7,909
FY2020
8,505
FY2021
10,605
FY2022 total
10,898
FY2023 total
11,136
FY2024 total
11,389
Operation and maintenance
Operation and maintenance
Function and subfunction
Operation and maintenance
FY2019 total
1,328
FY2020
997
FY2021
1,368
FY2022 total
1,184
FY2023 total
1,154
FY2024 total
1,173
Procurement
Procurement
Function and subfunction
Procurement
FY2019 total
266
FY2020
252
FY2021
289
RDT&E
RDT&E
Function and subfunction
RDT&E
FY2019 total
230
FY2020
240
FY2021
153
Revolving and management funds
Revolving and management funds
Function and subfunction
Revolving and management funds
FY2019 total
16,742
DoD bill
DoD bill
Function and subfunction
DoD bill
FY2019 total
26,475
FY2020
9,994
FY2021
12,415
FY2022 total
12,082
FY2023 total
12,290
FY2024 total
12,562
Military construction
Military construction
Function and subfunction
Military construction
Family housing
Family housing
Function and subfunction
Family housing
FY2019 total
39
FY2020
36
Military construction bill
Military construction bill
Function and subfunction
Military construction bill
FY2019 total
39
FY2020
36
Trust funds
Trust funds
Function and subfunction
Trust funds
FY2019 total
442
FY2020
755
FY2021
484
FY2022 total
530
FY2023 total
615
FY2024 total
230
Offsetting receipts
Offsetting receipts
Function and subfunction
Offsetting receipts
FY2019 total
-2,194
FY2020
-1,753
FY2021
-2,043
FY2022 total
-1,922
FY2023 total
-1,892
FY2024 total
-1,912
Interfund transactions
Interfund transactions
Function and subfunction
Interfund transactions
FY2019 total
-46
FY2020
-91
FY2021
-86
FY2022 total
-83
FY2023 total
-79
FY2024 total
-77
051 - Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
051 - Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
Function and subfunction
051 - Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
FY2019 total
24,716
FY2020
8,941
FY2021
10,770
FY2022 total
10,608
FY2023 total
10,934
FY2024 total
10,804
Scoring and rounding
Scoring and rounding
Function and subfunction
Scoring and rounding
FY2019 total
2
FY2020
7
FY2021
5
FY2022 total
309
FY2023 total
200
FY2024 total
115
051 - Total DoD mandatory (OMB record)
051 - Total DoD mandatory (OMB record)
Function and subfunction
051 - Total DoD mandatory (OMB record)
FY2019 total
24,718
FY2020
8,948
FY2021
10,775
FY2022 total
10,917
FY2023 total
11,134
FY2024 total
10,919
Function and subfunction
FY2019 total
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022 total
FY2023 total
FY2024 total
FY2025 total
Base
OCO
Emergency
Total
Base
OCO
Total
051 - DoD discretionary
Military personnel (no MERHFC)
141,851
142,446
4,486
146,932
150,524
4,603
155,126
158,117
162,796
167,495
Operation and maintenance
281,801
234,885
53,735
977
289,597
230,352
58,569
288,921
279,501
282,530
296,585
Procurement
146,533
131,734
11,590
431
143,754
131,756
5,128
136,884
137,746
149,108
157,060
RDT&E
95,304
103,520
834
130
104,485
106,225
331
106,555
104,839
101,821
100,254
Revolving and management funds
1,873
1,564
20
234
1,818
1,349
20
1,369
1,347
1,358
1,381
DoD bill (no MERHFC)
667,362
614,149
70,665
1,772
686,586
620,206
68,651
688,855
681,550
697,613
722,775
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
7,533
7,817
7,817
8,373
8,373
8,819
9,270
9,752
DoD bill with MERHFC
674,895
621,966
70,665
1,772
694,403
628,579
68,651
697,228
690,369
706,883
732,527
Military construction
11,332
9,850
645
6,229
16,723
6,462
350
6,812
10,036
8,623
8,379
Family housing
1,565
1,465
1,465
1,351
1,351
1,497
1,556
1,649
Military construction bill
12,897
11,315
645
6,229
18,188
7,813
350
8,163
11,533
10,179
10,028
Allowances
38
Outyears placeholder for OCO
20,000
20,000
10,000
051 - Total DoD discretionary (DoD record)
687,830
633,281
71,310
8,000
712,591
636,392
69,000
705,392
721,902
737,063
752,555
Scoring and rounding
22
5
051 - Total DoD discretionary (OMB record)
687,852
712,596
705,392
721,902
737,063
752,555
051 - DoD mandatory
Military personnel
7,909
8,505
10,605
10,898
11,136
11,389
Operation and maintenance
1,328
997
1,368
1,184
1,154
1,173
Procurement
266
252
289
RDT&E
230
240
153
Revolving and management funds
16,742
DoD bill
26,475
9,994
12,415
12,082
12,290
12,562
Military construction
Family housing
39
36
Military construction bill
39
36
Trust funds
442
755
484
530
615
230
Offsetting receipts
-2,194
-1,753
-2,043
-1,922
-1,892
-1,912
Interfund transactions
-46
-91
-86
-83
-79
-77
051 - Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
24,716
8,941
10,770
10,608
10,934
10,804
Scoring and rounding
2
7
5
309
200
115
051 - Total DoD mandatory (OMB record)
24,718
8,948
10,775
10,917
11,134
10,919
National defense budget authority – discretionary and mandatory (in millions) · Budget for FY2019 › Total overview
Military personnel (without MERHFC)
Military personnel (without MERHFC)
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Military personnel (without MERHFC)
FY2019
$143,198
Operations and maintenance
Operations and maintenance
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Operations and maintenance
FY2019
$278,803
Procurement
Procurement
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Procurement
FY2019
$147,287
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
FY2019
$95,253
Revolving and management funds
Revolving and management funds
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Revolving and management funds
FY2019
$1,656
Defense bill (without MERHFC)
Defense bill (without MERHFC)
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Defense bill (without MERHFC)
FY2019
$666,197
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
FY2019
$7,533
Department of Defense bill + MERHFC
Department of Defense bill + MERHFC
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Department of Defense bill + MERHFC
FY2019
$673,730
Military construction
Military construction
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Military construction
FY2019
$9,688
Family housing
Family housing
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Family housing
FY2019
$1,565
Military construction bill
Military construction bill
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Military construction bill
FY2019
$11,253
Total base + OCO + emergency (DoD record)
Total base + OCO + emergency (DoD record)
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Total base + OCO + emergency (DoD record)
FY2019
$684,985
Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
FY2019
$8,073
DoD total
DoD total
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
DoD total
FY2019
$693,058
(Discretionary budget authority) + OCO + emergency (combined)
FY2019
Military personnel (without MERHFC)
$143,198
Operations and maintenance
$278,803
Procurement
$147,287
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
$95,253
Revolving and management funds
$1,656
Defense bill (without MERHFC)
$666,197
Medicare-eligible retiree health fund contribution (MERHFC)
$7,533
Department of Defense bill + MERHFC
$673,730
Military construction
$9,688
Family housing
$1,565
Military construction bill
$11,253
Total base + OCO + emergency (DoD record)
$684,985
Total DoD mandatory (DoD record)
$8,073
DoD total
$693,058
Pay and benefits funding (in billions, base budget only) · Budget for FY2019 › For personnel payment and benefits
Military personnel appropriations
Military personnel appropriations
Pay and benefits funding
Military personnel appropriations
FY2019
$140
Medicare-eligible retiree health care accruals
Medicare-eligible retiree health care accruals
Pay and benefits funding
Medicare-eligible retiree health care accruals
FY2019
$7
Defense health program
Defense health program
Pay and benefits funding
Defense health program
FY2019
$34
DoD Education Activity
DoD Education Activity
Pay and benefits funding
DoD Education Activity
FY2019
$3
Family housing
Family housing
Pay and benefits funding
Family housing
FY2019
$1
Commissary subsidy
Commissary subsidy
Pay and benefits funding
Commissary subsidy
FY2019
$1
Other benefit programs
Other benefit programs
Pay and benefits funding
Other benefit programs
FY2019
$3
Military pay and benefits
Military pay and benefits
Pay and benefits funding
Military pay and benefits
FY2019
$192
Civilian pay and benefits
Civilian pay and benefits
Pay and benefits funding
Civilian pay and benefits
FY2019
$76
Total pay and benefits
Total pay and benefits
Pay and benefits funding
Total pay and benefits
FY2019
$268
Pay and benefits funding
FY2019
Military personnel appropriations
$140
Medicare-eligible retiree health care accruals
$7
Defense health program
$34
DoD Education Activity
$3
Family housing
$1
Commissary subsidy
$1
Other benefit programs
$3
Military pay and benefits
$192
Civilian pay and benefits
$76
Total pay and benefits
$268
OCO funding by operation/activity (in billions) · Budget for FY2019 › By overseas contingency operation
Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) and related missions
Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) and related missions
Operation/activity
Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) and related missions
FY2019
$46
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and related missions
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and related missions
Operation/activity
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and related missions
FY2019
$15
European Deterrence Initiative (EDI)
European Deterrence Initiative (EDI)
Operation/activity
European Deterrence Initiative (EDI)
FY2019
$6
Security cooperation
Security cooperation
Operation/activity
Security cooperation
FY2019
$0
Grand total
Grand total
Operation/activity
Grand total
FY2019
$69
Operation/activity
FY2019
Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) and related missions
$46
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and related missions
$15
European Deterrence Initiative (EDI)
$6
Security cooperation
$0
Grand total
$69
DoD Total (base + OCO + emergency) budget by military department (in billions) · Budget for FY2019 › By military department
Department of the Army
Department of the Army
Discretionary budget authority
Department of the Army
FY2019
$182
Department of the Navy (including Marines)
Department of the Navy (including Marines)
Discretionary budget authority
Department of the Navy (including Marines)
FY2019
$194
Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force
Discretionary budget authority
Department of the Air Force
FY2019
$194
Defense-wide
Defense-wide
Discretionary budget authority
Defense-wide
FY2019
$115
Discretionary budget authority
FY2019
Department of the Army
$182
Department of the Navy (including Marines)
$194
Department of the Air Force
$194
Defense-wide
$115

References

  1. FY2025
  2. FY2024 agreement was reached Saturday 27 May 2023. The Senate agreed to the debt ceiling arrangement for 2023-2025 on 2
  3. MERHFC is Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Fund Contribution, administered separately by the treasury
  4. CNAS
    https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/stuck-in-the-cul-de-sac/
  5. CNAS
    https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/stuck-in-the-cul-de-sac
  6. US Senate
    https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy2026_ndaa_executive_summary.pdf
  7. Defence Comptroller
    https://comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2026/FY2026_Budget_Request_Overview_Book.pdf?utm_source=war.gov
  8. Al Jazeera
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/3/trump-seeks-historic-1-5-trillion-for-military-in-congress-budget-request
  9. Defense News
    https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/04/21/pentagon-seeks-funds-for-golden-dome-drones-ai-in-largest-ever-budget-request/
  10. "Golden Dome, ships and missiles top Trump's $1 trillion fiscal 2027 defense wish list"
    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/golden-dome-ships-missiles-top-trumps-15-trillion-fiscal-2027-defense-wish-list-2026-04-02/
  11. "Trump's $1 trillion defense budget includes $750 billion for ships, jets and Golden Dome"
    https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-15-trillion-defense-budget-includes-750-billion-ships-jets-golden-dome-2026-04-21/
  12. Military Times
    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/04/21/pentagon-seeks-funds-for-golden-dome-drones-ai-in-largest-ever-budget-request/
  13. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/21/pentagon-15-trillion-budget-details/
  14. "Trump calls for $1 trillion military budget in 2027, up from $901 bln in 2026"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-us-military-budget-2027-should-be-15-trillion-2026-01-07/
  15. appropriations
    http://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-releases-fy27-national-security-department-state-and-related-programs
  16. CHANNEL8
    https://channel8.com/english/news/57133
  17. US Department of Defense (11 March 2024) Department of Defense Releases the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Budget
    https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3703410/department-of-defense-releases-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2025-defense-budget/
  18. DoD Comptroller (March 2024) Mar 2024 Budget
    https://comptroller.war.gov/Budget-Materials/Budget2025/
  19. C. Todd Lopez, DOD News (8 May 2024) Austin: FY 2025 Budget Includes 'Tough, But Responsible' Decisions Archived 12 Marc
    https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3703410/department-of-defense-releases-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2025-defense-budget/
  20. United States House of Representatives In Congress Assembled (17 December 2024) Continuing Resolution Further Continuing
    https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/CR.pdf
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