Energy News
MILPLEX
US Congress passes huge $886 bn defense budget for 2024
US Congress passes huge $886 bn defense budget for 2024
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Dec 14, 2023

The US Congress approved a staggering defense budget of $886 billion for 2024 on Thursday, while also extending a controversial overseas electronic surveillance system widely used by US intelligence services.

The vast spending bill, adopted in the House of Representatives after a vote in the Senate on Wednesday, provides billions of dollars to "enhance US deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region" and counter China's rising influence there.

The document also extends a military aid program to Ukraine, allowing the gradual release of $300 million for Kyiv.

That sum is much less than the separate $61 billion requested by the US and Ukrainian presidents from Congress by the end of the year, a gigantic package for arming Ukraine that is still being debated.

The bill also extends by several months a law governing overseas electronic surveillance of foreign individuals, which has been widely criticized by privacy groups and which was about to expire.

The program allows US security services to conduct electronic surveillance programs -- including through email snooping -- of non-US nationals abroad, without seeking a judicial warrant.

FBI Director Christopher Wray this week urged Congress to renew the law, arguing that allowing it to lapse would be equivalent to "unilateral disarmament."

The new budget also gives a five-percent pay hike to military personnel.

The bill did not include additional measures put forward by Republicans to restrict access to abortion for military personnel and prohibit the Pentagon from flying the LGBT+ pride flag on its bases.

The document of more than 3,000 pages will now go to the desk of President Joe Biden for final approval.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILPLEX
Senate passes sweeping $886B defense policy bill
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 14, 2021
Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate have passed the annual defense bill, sending the nearly $900 billion sweeping legislation that lays out the Pentagon's priorities for the next fiscal to the House for consideration. The Senate passed the mammoth National Defense Authorization Act in a 87-to-13 vote Wednesday following months of negotiations and while the United States is backing two allies at war. "I am pleased that the Senate has come together to once again pass a strong, bipartisan defense ... read more

MILPLEX
Planet Labs Integrates Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub for Enhanced Earth Observation

Ancient bricks shed light on Earth's magnetic field anomalies 3,000 years ago

NASA Sensor Produces First Global Maps of Surface Minerals in Arid Regions

Spire Global secures major EUMETSAT contract for satellite weather data

MILPLEX
Airbus presents first flight model structure for Galileo Second Generation

Galileo Gen2 satellite production commences at Airbus facility

Galileo Second Generation satellite aces first hardware tests

PASSport project testing

MILPLEX
Drones help solve forest carbon capture riddle

Minding the gap on tropical forest carbon

Rent-a-tree firm helps Londoners have a sustainable Christmas

Deforestation hits record low in Brazilian Amazon in November

MILPLEX
Nigerians look to biofuel as cost of cooking gas soars

Chinese company gives leftover hotpot oil second life as jet fuel

Cheap and efficient ethanol catalyst from laser-melted nanoparticles

UK permits 'world-first' flight powered by sustainable fuels

MILPLEX
Free electric vehicle charging at work? It's possible with optimum solar

The solar forest

UK's iconic King's College Chapel gets controversial solar makeover

Renewables to exceed half of German electricity use in 2023

MILPLEX
UK unveils massive news windfarm investment by UAE, German firms

Wind and solar projects can profit from bitcoin mining

Winds of change? Bid to revive England's onshore sector

Drones to transport personnel and materials to offshore wind farms

MILPLEX
Coal use hits record in 2023, Earth's hottest year

Coal use to decline next year after record high in 2023: IEA

Rich nations need to ditch fossil fuels by 2040: scientists

Cheap electricity and jobs keep Serbia tied to coal

MILPLEX
China blasts UK, US 'malicious intentions in messing up Hong Kong'

China arrests former top bank official for bribery

Philippines deports 180 Chinese detained in anti-trafficking raid

China blasts UK's 'malicious intentions' after Cameron meets Hong Kong dissident

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.