Joe Biden Signs $768.2 Billion Defense Spending Bill into Law; Billions to Go Toward U.S. Military Defense Efforts in Europe

Joe Biden has signed off on a $768.2 billion defense spending bill.

This past Monday, Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law. This means $768.2 billion will be spent on the military; service members will also receive a 2.7 percent pay increase in the next year, VOA News reports.

The increased spending amount (5 percent) allegedly comes after Republicans and Democrats had to make a decision on how to better circumstances in the military regarding the military justice system and the requirements soldiers have for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense,” said Biden in a statement.

Some of the money will go toward the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which is a fund that was created to fight against Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific, according to AEI.org. It also includes $300 million that will go toward the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is helping support Ukraine against Russia. Another $4 billion will be distributed to the European Defense Initiative.

The news outlet reports that the bill reportedly blocks the money from being used to transfer or release inmates at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.