Senate Approves $858 Billion Defense Budget

The U.S. Senate has approved the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a provision to end the military's COVID vaccine requirement, reports the Hill (Washington, D.C.).

The budget totals $858 billion, about $45 billion more than the White House's request.

President Biden is expected to sign the bill, despite the Republican provision to end the COVID vaccine mandate, which he has described as "a mistake."

The NDAA also amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to better support alleged victims of sexual assault and requires investigators outside of the immediate chain-of-command to investigate sexual harassment complaints.

Congress added more money on nearly every line item for which the Biden administration requested funding, analysts said.