The annual defense budget is prepared by the Department of Defense, reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and then submitted to Congress. Yet it is Congress that has the final say. The House and Senate must pass annual policy (National Defense Authorization) and spending (Defense Appropriations) bills, then reconcile the differences. In fiscal 2025, Congress failed to pass a new budget measure, passing instead a full-year continuing resolution that held most spending at 2024 levels.
- DOD Budget Authority
- DOD Spending as a Percentage of GDP
- Federal Spending as a Percentage of GDP
- Federal Spending as Percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- DOD Budget By Service, Including Pass-Through
- DOD Budget Shares: 2023 vs. 2024 vs. 2025
- DOD Budget Shares By Military Department
- DOD Budget by Spending Category
- DAF Budget by Spending Category
- DAF Spending vs. Pass-Through
DOD BUDGET AUTHORITY
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | enacted 2024 | estimated 2025* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Budget | $600 | $616 | $633 | $703.7 | $742.2 | $815.9 | $842.3 | $842.3 |
| With Supplementals | $671 | $688 | $723 | $704.7 | $776.6 | $851.7 | N/A | N/A |
*In April 2025, members of both houses jointly proposed adding another $150 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2025.
*Estimated
Source: Defense Budget materials and Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Federal Spending as Percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
| Year | Defense | Entitlements | Other |
| 1962 | 9 | 5.7 | 3.3 |
| 1963 | 8.7 | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| 1964 | 8.3 | 5.6 | 3.6 |
| 1965 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 3.8 |
| 1966 | 7.6 | 5.3 | 4 |
| 1967 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 4.1 |
| 1968 | 9.2 | 6.4 | 4 |
| 1969 | 8.4 | 6.3 | 3.5 |
| 1970 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 3.7 |
| 1971 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 3.9 |
| 1972 | 6.5 | 7.9 | 4 |
| 1973 | 5.7 | 8.2 | 3.9 |
| 1974 | 5.4 | 8.5 | 3.9 |
| 1975 | 5.5 | 10.3 | 4.4 |
| 1976 | 5 | 10.3 | 4.8 |
| 1977 | 4.8 | 9.7 | 4.9 |
| 1978 | 4.6 | 9.7 | 5 |
| 1979 | 4.6 | 9.3 | 4.8 |
| 1980 | 4.8 | 10.1 | 5.1 |
| 1981 | 5 | 10.5 | 4.8 |
| 1982 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 4.2 |
| 1983 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 5.8 | 10 | 3.8 |
| 1985 | 5.9 | 10.2 | 3.8 |
| 1986 | 6 | 9.9 | 3.6 |
| 1987 | 5.9 | 9.7 | 3.4 |
| 1988 | 5.7 | 9.6 | 3.4 |
| 1989 | 5.5 | 9.5 | 3.3 |
| 1990 | 5.1 | 10.3 | 3.4 |
| 1991 | 5.2 | 10.4 | 3.5 |
| 1992 | 4.7 | 10.7 | 3.6 |
| 1993 | 4.3 | 10.5 | 3.7 |
| 1994 | 3.9 | 10.5 | 3.6 |
| 1995 | 3.6 | 10.4 | 3.6 |
| 1996 | 3.3 | 10.4 | 3.4 |
| 1997 | 3.2 | 10.2 | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 3 | 10.2 | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 2.9 | 9.9 | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 2.9 | 9.8 | 3.2 |
| 2001 | 2.9 | 10 | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 3.2 | 10.7 | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 3.6 | 11 | 3.7 |
| 2004 | 3.8 | 10.8 | 3.7 |
| 2005 | 3.8 | 10.8 | 3.7 |
| 2006 | 3.8 | 10.9 | 3.6 |
| 2007 | 3.8 | 10.7 | 3.5 |
| 2008 | 4.1 | 11.4 | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 4.5 | 15.1 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4.6 | 13.4 | 4.4 |
| 2011 | 4.5 | 13.7 | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 4.2 | 13.2 | 3.8 |
| 2013 | 3.8 | 12.7 | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 3.4 | 12.5 | 3.4 |
| 2015 | 3.2 | 13.3 | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 3.2 | 13.5 | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 3.1 | 13.5 | 3.1 |
| 2018 | 3.1 | 12.8 | 3.1 |
| 2019 | 3.2 | 13.3 | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 3.4 | 22 | 4.3 |
| 2021 | 3.3 | 21.6 | 3.9 |
| 2022 | 3 | 17.3 | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 3 | 14.4 | 3.4 |
| 2024 estimate | 3.1 | 15.3 | 3.5 |
| 2025 estimate | 3.1 | 15.4 | 3.5 |
Source: Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2025, Historical Tables
DoD Budget By Service, including PASS-THROUGH
($ in millions)
| 2023 enacted | % | 2024 enacted | % | 2025 enacted | % | |
| Department of the Air Force | $249,897 | 29.3% | $256,953 | 30.5% | $256,953 | 30.5% |
| USAF | 179.7 | 21.1 | 184,371 | 21.9 | 184,371 | 21.9 |
| USSF | 26.1 | 3.1 | 28,696 | 3.4 | 28,696 | 3.4 |
| Pass-Through | 43.9 | 5.2 | 44,579 | 5.3 | 44,579 | 5.3 |
| Army | 201,366 | 23.6 | 185,643 | 22 | 185,643 | 22 |
| Department of the Navy | 246,584 | 29 | 254,905 | 30.3 | 254,905 | 30.3 |
| Navy | 192,845 | 22.6 | 202,553*** | N/A | 202,553*** | N/A |
| Marine Corps | 51,860 | 6.1 | 53,219*** | N/A | 53,219*** | N/A |
| Defense Agencies | 153,858 | 18.1 | 144,824 | 17.2 | 144,824 | 17.2 |
| Total | $851,706 | 842,326 | $842,326 |
May not add due to rounding.
*Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal 2025 at roughly the same levels as fiscal 2024.
**Pass-through funds appear in the Department of the Air Force budget but pass directly to other agencies, and are not used by or for the DAF.
***Requested amounts. The Department of the Navy did not provide fiscal 2024 enacted amounts for the Marine Corps and Navy by press time.
DOD Budget Shares By Military Department
($ in millions)
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 enacted | 2025 estimated** | |
| DAF* | $171,457 | $190,359 | $196,066 | $206,691 | $204,574 | $223,553 | $249,897 | $256,953 | $256,953 |
| % | 28 | 28.3 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28.8 | 29.3 | 30.5 | 30.5 |
| Army | $159,018 | $178,260 | 181,166 | $184,195 | $174,040 | $183,512 | $201,366 | $185,643 | $185,643 |
| % | 26.1 | 26.5 | 26 | 26.2 | 24.7 | 23.6 | 23.6 | 22 | 22 |
| Navy/Marine Corps | $174,058 | $190,489 | $197,778 | $209,383 | $206,936 | $223,231 | $246,584 | $254,905 | $254,905 |
| % | 29 | 28.31 | 29 | 29.8 | 29 | 28.7 | 29 | 30.3 | 30.3 |
| Defense Agencies | 104,754 | $113,853 | 117,991 | $122,955 | 119,184 | $146,336 | $153,858 | $144,824 | $144,824 |
| % | 17 | 16.9 | 17 | 17.5 | 17 | 18.8 | 18.1 | 17.2 | 17.2 |
| Total | 609,287 | $672,960 | $693,001 | $723,224 | $704,734 | $776,632 | $851,706 | $842,326 | $842,326 |
*Includes Pass-Through funds that pass directly to other agencies, and are not used by or for the DAF.
**Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal 2025 at roughly the same levels as fiscal 2024. In April 2025, members of both houses jointly proposed adding another $150 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2025, but no additional appropriation had passed by press time.
Source: Office of the Secretary of Defense (2024 enacted figures)
DOD Budget by Spending Category
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 enacted | 2025 estimated* | |
| Military Personnel | $144.7 | $149.9 | $162.8 | $166.8 | $174.0 | $175.9 | $175.9 |
| O&M | $231.4 | $237.2 | $283.6 | $294.5 | $318.5 | $326.8 | $326.8 |
| Procurement | $133.8 | $129.1 | $140.7 | $145.1 | $162.8 | $171.4 | $171.4 |
| RDT&E | $94.1 | $103.6 | $105.9 | $118.5 | $139.4 | $147.7 | $147.7 |
| Military Construction/Family Housing | $8.8 | $9.9 | $7.1 | $13.4 | $16.7 | $16.7 | $16.7 |
| Family Housing | $1.6 | $1.5 | $1.4 | $1.5 | $2.3 | $2.0 | $2.0 |
| Revolving Fundsc & Other | $1.9 | $2.3 | $2.1 | $2.3 | $2.2 | $1.8 | $1.8 |
| Total | $687.8 | $633.3 | $703.7 | $742.2 | $815.9 | $842.3 | $842.3 |
Base budget; 2021 and later includes war funding; does not include Ukraine or disaster assistance; current $ in billions.
**Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal 2025 at the same levels as fiscal 2024. In April 2025, members of both houses jointly proposed adding another $150 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2025, but no additional appropriation had passed by press time.
DAF Budget by Spending Category
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 enacted | 2025 estimated | |
| Military Personnel | $37.4 | $39.4 | $42.8 | $44.4 | $46.5 | $47.7 | $47.7 |
| O&M | $51.2 | $53.4 | $65.5 | $69.9 | $76.0 | $77.8 | $77.8 |
| Procurement | $43.2 | $43.3 | $47.8 | $49.5 | $58.1 | $61.0 | $61.0 |
| RDT&E | $40.6 | $45.3 | $46.2 | $52.8 | $61.4 | $65.8 | $65.8 |
| Military Construction | $2.0 | $2.4 | $1.3 | $3.5 | $4.6 | $4.0 | $4.0 |
| Family Housing | $0.4 | $0.4 | $0.4 | $0.4 | $0.6 | $0.6 | $0.6 |
| Revolving and Management | $0.1 | $0.2 | $0.4 | $0.5 | $0.1 | $0.1 | $0.1 |
| Total | $174.8 | $184.5 | $204.5 | $221.0 | $247.3 | $257.0 | $257.0 |
| % Change | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 enacted | 2025 estimated |
| Military Personnel | 7.80% | 5.30% | 8.60% | 3.70% | 4.70% | 2.60% | N/A |
| O&M | 2.1 | 4.3 | 22.7 | 6.7 | 8.7 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Procurement | 3.5 | 0.2 | 10.4 | 3.6 | 17.4 | 5 | N/A |
| RDT&E | 40.1 | 11.6 | 2 | 14.3 | 16.3 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Military Construction | -10.6 | 20 | 45.8 | 169.2 | 31.4 | -13 | N/A |
| Family Housing | 17.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | N/A |
| Revolving and Management | 16.4 | 100 | 100 | 25 | -80 | 0 | N/A |
| Total | 1.80% | 5.50% | 10.80% | 8.10% | 11.90% | 3.90% |
Source: Office of the Secretary of Defense (2024 enacted figures)
Base budget in $ billions; includes war funding in 2021 and later; does not include Ukraine or emergency funding.
*Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal 2025 at the same levels as fiscal 2024. In April 2025, members of both houses jointly proposed adding another $150 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2025, but no additional appropriation had passed by press time.
Total Obligational Authority VS. PASS-THROUGH
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 enacted | 2025 estimated | |
| DAF | $136.60 | $151.50 | $156.80 | $168.10 | $168.20 | $180.80 | $205.80 | $213.10 | $213.10 |
| Pass-Through | 34.3 | 37.2 | 37.8 | 39 | 37.3 | 41.4 | 43.9 | 44.6 | 44.6 |
| Total | 170.9 | 188.7 | 194.6 | 207.1 | 205.5 | 222.3 | 249.7 | 257.7 | 257.7 |
| Pass-Through % | 20.10% | 19.70% | 19.40% | 18.80% | 18.20% | 18.60% | 17.60% | 17.30% | 17.30% |
Sources: Department of the Air Force (2024 enacted figures)
*Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal 2025 at the same levels as fiscal 2024. In April 2025, members of both houses jointly proposed adding another $150 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2025, but no additional appropriation had passed by press time.