Biden’s Budget In the absence of news, we’re sticking by our way-too-early predictions of flat defense spending, at best — especially with Congress on the verge of passing another coronavirus stimulus package, this one totalling nearly $1 trillion. If Republicans retain control of the Senate, expect lesser cuts. If Democrats take control after two early-January Georgia runoffs, expect deeper cuts as they focus on priorities other than defense. In the meantime, the Trump administration last week released what it calls the “FY 2022 Fiscal Planning Framework,” a blueprint for what it calls the Pentagon’s top spending priorities. It’s an unusual attempt by a lame-duck administration to shape the next budget, and may become an important reference for congressional Republicans when they review Biden’s fiscal 2022 budget proposal. Typically, an incoming administration sends its first budget plan to lawmakers a few months later than the more typical February delivery. That gives incoming officials time to make changes and fund its priorities across government. Expect new Biden administration priorities to include climate change, pandemic panning and bio defense. Where else might the Biden Pentagon team add money?