This report assesses the Biden administration’s FY 2022 defense budget request. It outlines the priorities and potential effects of ongoing strategic reviews, tracks current congressional action on FY 2022 defense appropriations, and identifies key issues for FY 2023.
The Air Force continues developing and procuring next-generation aircraft to meet the demands of great power conflict. While fielding new aircraft has slowed the increase in fleet age, the Air Force is not buying enough new aircraft to sustain current force levels.
The Marine Corps continues a major restructuring to develop capabilities for great power conflict in the Pacific by cutting units and personnel. The restructuring remains controversial and a work in progress.
The Biden administration’s emerging fleet plan incorporates smaller ships and large numbers of unmanned systems, as proposed by many strategists, but high costs, production limitations, and congressional opposition may prevent full implementation.
Despite its budget having declined by $3.6 billion, the U.S. Army’s force structure remains steady as a result of cuts to modernization and readiness. In the long term, the Army’s force structure is at risk because of the strategic focus on China, perceived as primarily an air and naval theater.
Each fiscal year, CSIS produces a series of papers on U.S. military forces, including their composition, new initiatives, long-term trends, and challenges. In FY 2022, military forces are “peering into the abyss,” as constrained budgets and strategy changes push the services to cut forces.
The Biden administration is expected to release its first budget request for FY 2022 in May. While the request was developed predominantly under the previous administration, it will provide some direction as to the national security priorities of the new administration.