What’s in Biden’s $105B spending request?

Digital Originals

U.S. President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass a $105 billion spending bill to aid Ukraine, Israel and other programs.

Here’s how that compares to other U.S. spending.

Biden wants to aid Ukraine with $61.4 billion in its fight with Russia.

This is on top of the $12 billion the U.S. obligated to Ukraine for its war efforts in the 2022 fiscal year.

For comparison, the total budget for the U.S. Dept. of Justice, which enforces the law and defends the interests of the U.S. against threats foreign and domestic, is about $70.7 billion.

Biden is also asking Congress to approve $14.3 billion to Israel for military assistance in its war with Hamas.

In fiscal year 2022, Israel also received $3.3 billion in U.S. aid for military support.

In comparison U.S. spent only $150 million on aid to the West Bank and Gaza in Fiscal Year 2022.

The annual funding to Israel combined with the new request is about the budget for the U.S. Federal Communications Commission – the agency that regulates interstate and international communications — and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which protects investors and maintains fair and efficient markets.

Biden is also asking for $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other locations to be determined by relevant agencies.

That’s roughly the same as it costs to fund the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which is America’s development bank that partners with the private sector to finance projects in the developing world.

With a population of 9.17 million people, the $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel in 2022 amounts to about $359 per Israeli.

With a population of 5.37 million, the $150 million in U.S. aid to the West Bank and Gaza in 2022 amounts to $27 per Palestinian.