Nondefense spending receives huge boost in proposed $1.5 trillion budget

The Biden administration has introduced a $1.5 trillion annual budget for the 2022 fiscal year. The proposal includes increases in both defense and nondefense spending, however expansion in funding for the latter is much higher than expected.

Nondefense spending, reports The Hill received a 16% boost, up $105.7 billion from 2020, while defense spending only received a 1.7% increase.

The budget also allocates more money to expand government agencies, and eliminates funding for former president Trump's proposed border wall.

According to The Hill, included in the $769 billion nondefense budget are increases in funding for government agencies; 40.8% for Education, 27.7% for Commerce, 23.1% for Health and Human Services, and 16% for Agriculture departments.

The Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation are also featured in the budget, with 21.3% and 19.8% increases in funding, respectively. These increases all highlight the Biden administration's goal of beefing up domestic spending, along with promoting wellbeing and scientific literacy.

Separate from the budget are the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, and the proposed $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill. Balancing the needs of the country in these unprecedented times with the realities of deficit spending will not be an easy task for the Biden administration going forward.