Military pay and readiness won’t be hurt by flat defense budget plan, White House promises 1 day ago Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division conduct marksmanship training at Tactical Base Gamberi in eastern Afghanistan on May 29, 2015. (Capt. Charlie Emmons/Army) Defense department spending would see a small increase next fiscal year under a budget plan outlined by the White House on Friday, with administration officials saying any large spending trims could endanger military pay and personnel support programs. The $715 billion plan represents a 1.6 percent increase in spending from fiscal 2021 but would amount to a decrease of about 0.4 percent when inflation is factored in. Unlike past years, when overseas operations were funded through a different account, the $715 billion total includes all Defense Department spending.