The Biden administration has shot down a proposal aimed at increasing pay for U.S. troops, citing budgetary constraints and other pressing defense needs. The decision, embedded within the context of the proposed H.R. 8070 bill, has left many service members and advocates for military personnel disheartened and vocal about their discontent.

The bill, titled the “Service-member Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,” aimed to authorize appropriations totaling $884.9 billion for the next fiscal year, with significant portions allocated for various military functions and defense activities. However, despite these substantial appropriations, the provision to increase troop pay did not receive the endorsement of the administration.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 8070 would authorize $883.7 billion for military functions and $1.2 billion for non-defense activities in 2025. The bill prescribed personnel levels for active-duty and selected-reserve components and extended various bonuses and allowances to military personnel. It also changed compensation and health care benefits for military personnel and their families, which were points of significant attention during its drafting.