Bill Overview
Title: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2023
Description: This bill provides FY2023 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military activities. (The bill excludes military construction, military family housing, civil works projects of the Army Corps of Engineers, and nuclear warheads, which are all considered in other appropriations bills.) Within the DOD budget, the bill provides appropriations for Military Personnel; Operation and Maintenance; Procurement; Research, Development, Test and Evaluation; and Revolving and Management Funds. The bill provides appropriations for other DOD programs and activities, including the Defense Health Program, Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, the Office of the Inspector General, and Support for International Sporting Competitions. In addition, the bill provides appropriations for related agencies, including (1) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund, and (2) the Intelligence Community Management Account. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Sponsors: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Target Audience
Population: Military personnel and associated workforce impacted by Defense Appropriations
Estimated Size: 3500000
- The appropriations are intended for the Department of Defense for military activities, not including military construction, family housing, civil projects of the Army Corps of Engineers, and nuclear warheads.
- The bill provides funding directly affecting Military Personnel, influencing their salaries, benefits, and overall support.
- Operation and Maintenance budget impacts all service members and personnel involved in logistics, training, and overall operations of the military.
- The Procurement budget affects suppliers, manufacturers, and developers linked to military equipment, technology, and defense systems.
- Research, Development, Test and Evaluation appropriations affect companies and personnel in defense technology and innovation fields.
- The funds allocated for programs such as the Defense Health Program directly impact military personnel's health services.
- Budget allocations for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction and Drug Interdiction affect civilian and professional populations related to these operations.
- Intelligence community-related allocations impact intelligence personnel, analysts, and support staff within agencies like CIA.
- The bill mentions restrictions and requirements for fund usage, which may influence how military and intelligence operations are carried out.
Reasoning
- The target population includes military personnel, intelligence personnel, defense contractors, and companies involved in R&D related to the defense sector.
- The policy primarily affects military and intelligence operations, thus impacting personnel directly involved or affiliated with these domains.
- The widely distributed funds across different domains of defense suggest varying degrees of impact on wellbeing based on the direct involvement and benefit from the appropriations.
- While the budget is substantial, its distribution across numerous programs and personnel implies individual impacts may range from none to high depending on the person’s role or benefit received from these funds.
Simulated Interviews
Active Duty Military Personnel (Fort Hood, Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is beneficial for ensuring stability in pay and resources.
- It means better equipment and support, which makes my job safer and more efficient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Defense Contractor (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is great for business stability and growth opportunities.
- Ensures continuous flow of contracts and technical projects, providing job security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Military Veteran (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy somewhat impacts benefits indirectly.
- Not much impact unless additional funds support veteran services like health programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Intelligence Analyst (Arlington, Virginia)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy supports agency operations and employee duties.
- Provides tools and resources for improved performance and job security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might lead to more contracts and partnerships.
- Potentially positive impact on company growth, though indirect for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Civilian Employee, Department of Defense (Great Falls, Montana)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy ensures department funding which supports my job stability.
- Allows for better resources and infrastructure for task management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Peace Activist (Brooklyn, New York)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is not in favor of my views on military spending.
- Would prefer funds used in peacebuilding and civilian support projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Military Spouse (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy ensures consistent support for military families.
- Important for housing allowances and children’s educational benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Intelligence Officer (Macon, Georgia)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Little direct effect due to retirement, but supports former colleagues.
- Indirect benefits through stable pension systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Houston, Texas)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy indirectly benefits students and their families.
- Schools may receive additional support for military children programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $744000000000 (Low: $700000000000, High: $780000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill's exclusion of military construction and nuclear warhead activities indicates these will be covered by separate appropriations, affecting total defense budget allocation.
- Geopolitical tensions and defense commitments globally may increase demands on appropriations.
- Balancing innovation in defense technology with fiscal responsibility remains a strategic challenge.