Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) acknowledged that the request is “among the largest in history,” but said it reflected the “reality of the national security challenges we face.”

“With this strong budget, President Biden is prioritizing the safety and well-being of the American people. Some will inevitably say the topline is too much, while others will claim it is not enough. I say America’s defense budget should be guided by our values, needs, and national security strategy,” he said.
 

However, Republican defense hawks say the defense budget needs to be higher due to inflation under the Biden administration.

The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee Roger Wicker (R-MS) called the defense budget request “woefully inadequate and disappointing.”

“The President’s defense budget is woefully inadequate and disappointing. It does not even resource his own National Defense Strategy to protect our country from growing threats around the world. This defense budget is a serious indication of President Biden’s failure to prioritize national security,” he said in a statement.