Authorizing Military Spending

In my government class, we were talking about military spending. I've been wondering- which branch of the government authorizes military spending?

The body that authorizes military spending in the United States is Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the power to "raise and support Armies" and "provide and maintain a Navy," which includes determining the budget for these defense efforts.

The process begins when the President presents a federal budget proposal to Congress, which includes a request for defense spending. This proposal includes a detailed breakdown of the funding requested for each department and program within the Department of Defense, including the six branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

It's then up to Congress to review, adjust, and approve the budget. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are specifically responsible for overseeing military matters. They start this process by drafting a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets the policies and budget for the Defense Department.

This bill must then pass the full House and Senate and get signed by the President. However, the NDAA by itself does not actually fund the military. It just authorizes the funding. The actual money is allocated through separate legislation known as appropriations bills, specifically the Defense Appropriations bill, which likewise needs approval from both chambers of Congress and the President.

In sum, while the President proposes a budget, it's Congress that ultimately authorizes and appropriates military spending.