Biden Signs Defense Authorization Act... US Defense Budget Hits Record High, Maintains 28,500 Troops in South Korea

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets the U.S. defense budget for the 2024 fiscal year (October this year to September next year) at $886 billion (approximately 1,152 trillion won), an increase of about 3% from the previous year.

The White House announced in a press release that President Biden signed the 2024 fiscal year NDAA on the 22nd (local time), completing the legislative process.

The NDAA passed the federal Senate and House of Representatives on the 13th and 14th, respectively. The $886 billion specified in the law is the highest defense budget ever.

The NDAA includes provisions to maintain the current size of the U.S. Forces Korea at approximately 28,500 troops and emphasizes the U.S. extended deterrence commitments, including the Washington Declaration adopted by the South Korean and U.S. leaders last April.

It also requires reporting to Congress on the progress regarding the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea and extends the effectiveness of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until April next year. Section 702 of FISA allows the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect communications such as calls, text messages, messenger, and emails of foreigners from U.S. information technology (IT) companies like Google and Apple without a warrant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]