https://crsreports.congress.gov
December 9, 2022
Defense Spending and Your District
Defense spending touches every Member of Congress’s
district through pay and benefits for military
servicemembers and retirees, economic and environmental
impact of installations, and procurement of weapons
systems and parts from local industry, among other
activities. This product is intended to familiarize Members
with the scope of federal funding for defense-related
activities, and to help prepare them to deliberate on defense
policy and funding legislation.
Major Activities in Defense Policy
Members typically influence defense policy and funding in
legislation that addresses three broad categories of national
defense-related activities: 1) military and intelligence
activities of the Department of Defense (DOD); 2) atomic
energy defense activities primarily of the Department of
Energy, including development of nuclear weapons and
propulsion systems; and 3) other defense-related activities
(e.g., FBI counterintelligence activities). In the President’s
FY2023 budget request to Congress, national defense-
related activities accounted for $827 billion (14%) of nearly
$6 trillion in total federal funding. Of the $827 billion, $813
billion was requested for discretionary budget authority
(i.e., funding provided in appropriations acts). Congress can
choose to provide lesser, the same, or greater amounts.
DOD Budget
With DOD accounting for $773 billion (95%) of the $813
billion in discretionary funding requested for national
defense-related activities, the annual defense budget
process provides an opportunity for Members to prioritize
funding for various types of military activities. In terms of
major categories, or titles, the largest share of funding in
DOD’s portion of the President’s FY2023 budget request is
$309.3 billion (40%) for Operation and Maintenance
(O&M) to operate and maintain the armed services;
followed by $173.9 billion (22%) for Military Personnel
(MILPERS) to pay for servicemembers; $145.9 billion
(19%) for Procurement to buy weapons, equipment, and
services; $130.1 billion (17%) for Research, Development,
Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) to develop new technology;
$12.2 billion (2%) for military construction and family
housing (MILCON) to fund construction projects and land
acquisition; and $1.6 billion (0.2%) for revolving funds (see
Figure 1).
Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
Members and their staff typically express interest in O&M
activities, in part because this portion of the DOD budget
funds a range of activities occurring in or around
congressional districts—and throughout the world. These
activities include military recruiting; minor repairs of
military installations (e.g., replacing roofs, refinishing wall
surfaces, repairing or replacing heating and cooling
systems); routine maintenance of aircraft, ground vehicles,
and ships; headquarters and supply operations; and paying
civilian personnel. O&M funding also supports the Military
Health System (MHS), which offers health care benefits
and services through its TRICARE program to
approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries composed of
servicemembers, military retirees, and family members.
The MHS administers Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Programs funding to certain medical research
programs on a variety of diseases and topics. O&M funding
also supports military training exercises and other activities
related to readiness (i.e., the ability of military forces to
fight and meet the demands of assigned missions).
Figure 1. FY2023 DOD Budget Request, by Major
Appropriation Title
(as a percentage of DOD discretionary budget authority)
Source: CRS analysis of White House Office of Management and
Budget, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2023,
Analytical Perspectives, Table 25-1.
Notes: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Military Personnel (MILPERS)
Every congressional district has some military-connected
constituents, such as active-duty servicemembers,
reservists, retirees, DOD employees, contractors, and/or
military families. During the legislative cycle, Members
may weigh decisions about compensation, benefits (e.g.,
healthcare, leave time), and other policies that affect these
populations. The basic MILPERS spending questions
facing Congress on an annual basis typically include “How
many people?” and “How much to pay them?” Title 10,
Section 101, of the United States Code gives Congress the
authority to establish end-strengths (the total force size) for
the active and reserve components. Elements of military
compensation (e.g., basic pay and housing allowances) are
specified in law, including formulas tying pay increases to
inflation, unless modified by Congress. Factors influencing
force size and compensation decisions may include
