In March, six months into the fiscal year and after a contentious and prolonged negotiation that included a brief shutdown of the federal government, Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress finally passed a full-year appropriations bill for the federal government—a $1.3 trillion behemoth stuffed with all manner of provisions that ensured the votes to pass it. The legislation provides substantial new funding for just about everything the government does. In particular, Republicans had to agree to large increases in domestic appropriations in order to secure the needed funds for national defense.

After Congress passed the deal, President Trump had buyer’s remorse when he heard conservatives condemn the profligate spending, and he briefly threatened to veto it. But the size and expense of this legislation was a foregone conclusion when the president agreed in February to a bipartisan budget bill that raised the caps on appropriated spending by $300 billion over two years. The final bill simply filled in the details of the added spending that the February deal allowed. Although the appropriations bill covers only 2018, and the budget deal that raised the caps is for two years, the bump up in appropriations over the next two years will permanently raise the level of government outlays, adding to the government’s borrowing requirements for many years to come.