Today, the President’s FY 23 budget request was released, jump starting the FY 23 appropriations process just weeks after the finalization of FY 22 funding.
The Administration is requesting about $1.64 trillion, a nearly 9 percent increase over the $1.51 trillion enacted for FY 22. The Administration is requesting $769 billion for non defense spending, a roughly five percent increase over FY 22. However, including budgetary add-ons, non-defense spending would actually receive roughly $829.2 billion in FY 23, a nearly 14 percent increase from FY 22. In FY 22, the current fiscal year, nondefense spending is set at $730 billion and defense spending is $782 billion.
The Administration is proposing $813 billion for defense related programming, a roughly four percent increase over FY 22 enacted levels. For comparison, in President Biden’s FY 22 budget proposal he requested a less than two percent increase to defense spending, while requesting a roughly 16 percent increase for domestic programs. Congressional Republicans are already calling for more defense funding than will be proposed by the Administration, with Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) seeking at least a five percent increase in defense spending above inflation.
The Administration is requesting more than $127 billion for HHS, a roughly 15 percent increase FY 22. Friends of HRSA report that the budget would provide $8.503 billion in discretionary funding for HRSA (not including mandatory funding, the Vaccine Direct Operations Budget Authority or the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program). This would be $53 million less than the $8.556 billion in FY 22 HRSA funding that was recently passed and enacted. The FY 23 Budget requests $2.1 billion, an increase of $324.1 million to grow, diversify, and promote the well-being of the health workforce. The FY 23 Budget requests $397.4 million, an increase of $235.3 million, for the Behavioral Health Workforce Development programs to support behavioral health training.
The Administration is requesting $88.3 billion in discretionary funds for the Department of Education, a nearly $12 billion increase over current funding. Pell Grants would be doubled by 2029. The maximum grant would be increased from the current fiscal year by $1,775 to $8,670 starting in the 2023-2024 academic year. HBCUs, tribal colleges, and MSIs would receive a $752 million increase over FY 21 funding.
The leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees expressed hope they can accelerate the FY 23 Appropriations process. Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) indicated appropriators plan to meet soon after President Biden’s budget proposal is released to reach agreement on topline spending levels on defense and domestic programming. The lack of an agreement on topline spending was a key reason why FY 22 negotiations were stalled for months.
The Budget Request may be accessed here. A statement by Secretary Cardona may be accessed here. Department of Education documents are available here. A statement by Secretary Beccera may be accessed here. Department of Health and Human Services documents are available here. A HPNEC funding chart is available here.