The Biden Administration’s first budget contains some inexplicable choices to cut national defense purchasing power while simultaneously proposing historic increases in spending on education. While national defense is one of the few constitutionally enumerated tasks for the federal government and all signs point to a need for increased funding to account for a more dangerous world, instead the administration proposed a $5 billion cut in buying power. Conversely education—Constitutionally the responsibility of states and local governments—is slated for a 40 percent increase in its budget, even though spending has no correlation with academic improvement. What can explain these seemingly illogical decisions and how can logic be restored to important budget choices? In this must-see conversation for policymakers and legislative staff, the Directors of Heritage’s Center for National Defense and Center for Education Policy discuss the history of federal funding approaches in these policy areas, their current respective budgetary needs, and what the Biden administration’s actions thus far portend for these critical issues. 

Policy professionals won’t want to miss this 30-minute Policy Pulse discussion.

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