Biden asks Congress for 16% increase in non-defense federal spending

President Joe Biden asked Congress for $769 billion in federal outlays on discretionary, non-defense programs in his first formal spending request Friday -- a 16% increase from former President Donald Trump's last budget.

The funding request for fiscal year 2022 comes on the heels of the passage of his $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill and as Congress begins to consider Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure and jobs package. It reflects the posture Biden has taken in the first months of his presidency when it comes to reversing what White House officials believe is significant underinvestment in social programs and domestic priorities over the course of the last decade. And it erases some Trump priorities, including spending on the border wall Trump campaigned on 2016 and made a centerpiece of his administration.