On June 22, the House Appropriations Committee approved $23 million for the Army’s Humanitarian Demining Research and Development (HD R&D) program in the FY24 defense budget. This is a $2 million increase from last year’s allocation of $21 million, as well as well as $14 million above the President’s Budget for this year.
This funding increase will protect both civilians and US servicemembers abroad by facilitating the development of new, safer, and more efficient demining technology. The HD R&D program is testing technology in over ten countries, including cutting vegetation in Colombia and clearing farmland in Ukraine.
The legislation will now proceed to a house-wide vote.
