WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush asked Congress Monday for $2.4 trillion to fund government programs for fiscal year 2005.
The budget request, amid growing anxiety on Capitol Hill over spiraling budget deficits and the national debt, forecasts $2.399 trillion in spending and $2.036 trillion in revenue, leaving a $363 billion deficit for the coming fiscal year, which begins October 1.
The deficit for this fiscal year is projected at over $500 billion.
Bush has requested a 7 percent increase for defence, a 10 percent increase to about $30.56 billion for Homeland Security programs and the FBI was tipped for an 11 percent increase to help fund greater counter-terrorism efforts.
Most non-defense and non-security-related programs would receive less than a 1 percent increase in the new budget, although the once-targeted National Endowment for the Arts is scheduled for a hefty increase for a new arts program.
Bush has vowed to keep the increase in overall government spending to less than 4 percent.
