By John A. Tirpak and Amy McCullough
The fiscal 2022 Pentagon budget should be $753 billion, $38 more than the Biden administration’s proposal of $715 billion, said Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Virginia), ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee. Wittman’s proposal is an increase from the $731.3 billion Congress approved in total defense spending for 2021. A 3 percent inflation factor “takes us to $753″ billion, Wittman said at the McAleese FY2022 Defense Programs Conference. At a separate event, House Armed Services Committee member Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Maryland) said many in his party want cuts in defense, with some Democrats calling for cuts of up to 10