white house and congress agree on massive two-year federal budget

Military spending for a variety of purposes, including construction projects, will see a multi-billion increase as the result of a budget deal reached by President Trump and Democratic Congressional leaders.

The details of the agreement call for defense spending to be capped at $738 million in 2020, and $740 billion for fiscal year 2021.

Non-defense spending will jump from $632 million to $634.5 billion during that same period of time.

The agreement additionally removes restrictions on using some of the funding to pay for a portion of the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

In a statement after the agreement was announced, President Trump called the deal “A real compromise in order to give another victory to our great military and vets!”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed the agreement as one that will “enhance our national security and invest in middle class priorities and well-being of the American people.”

Senate President Mitch McConnell described the budget deal as “necessary to continue rebuilding our national defense after years of neglect. And it’s the deal that was possible in divided government.”

Altogether, the new budget carries with it a price tag of $1.4 trillion.

The measure is expected to be voted upon by the full House later this week, with the Senate weighing in most likely next week.

The agreement, if finally approved by both chambers, means funding for a number of facility construction and upgrade projects at military bases in states across the country, including Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

A specific blueprint for individual appropriations in the new budget, reflecting 2020 spending levels, will have to be worked out and agreed upon by both chambers in September.

By Garry Boulard

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