Biden signs defense budget including USD 800 million in additional aid to Ukraine

The White House website reported that the President Joe Biden on Friday signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law:

“The Act authorizes fiscal year appropriations for the Department of Defense, for Department of Energy national security programs, and for the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community.  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, foreign affairs, and homeland security,” the statement says. 

The law also provides for increased pay for the US military, funding for arms purchases and support for Taiwan, which is threatened by China.

In addition, the document extends for 5 years the prohibition of the United States to cooperate with Russia in the military sphere, provides for secondary sanctions against participants in large gold and currency transactions with the Russian Federation, aimed at reducing dependence on Russian energy carriers and excluding the Russian Federation from international organizations, in particular from the G20.

Last year the US defense budget was USD 778 billion.