Biden aims $1.5 tn budget at health, education, social services

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday unveiled a more than $1.5 trillion budget proposal that would see US health, education and social service spending eclipse defence, in a reversal of his predecessor’s policies.

The discretionary spending request for fiscal year 2022 would allocate $769.4 billion to non-defense programs, more than the $753 billion apportioned for defense spending, which was prioritized under Donald Trump but only slightly increased under Biden’s proposal.

The Biden administration characterized the increase in non-defence spending as necessary to help the country recover from the Covid-19 downturn and create a more equitable economy in the years ahead. "The President’s funding request makes things fairer," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.