In the wake of the U.S. Secretary of Defense's FY 2006 budget requests for $419 billion after making a number of significant program cuts, the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress) passed H.R.1815, a $441 billion defense budget for FY 2006. The legislation passed on a 390-39 vote, but the budget will not be final until the U.S. Senate passes its own bill after June 6; the two bills must then be reconciled in committee before the U.S. President can sign a final budget.
Defense Industry Daily offers some highlights of the Congressional Pentagon budget, including controversial programs, changes from the Pentagon's request, and links to past coverage of key issues.
So, they're giving the Pentagon more than they say they need? No wonder those defecits are so high.
When civilians decide on the funding priorities, that can happen. As the update notes, there were some areas where Congress felt the military wasn't spending enough (ships), and others where they thought it was spending too much.