The Pentagon Budget Is Shrinking. Invest in Transition

Spring budget season is almost over, and the House and Senate have once again placed parochial politics above budget discipline in their consideration of the Pentagon budget. The most extreme example came in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which rejected virtually every...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Foreign policy in focus 2014-06, p.N_A
Main Authors: Pemberton, Miriam, Hartung, William D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Budget deficits
Budgeting
Defense spending
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Summary:Spring budget season is almost over, and the House and Senate have once again placed parochial politics above budget discipline in their consideration of the Pentagon budget. The most extreme example came in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which rejected virtually every cost-cutting measure put forward by the Pentagon, from base closings to retiring unneeded weapons systems. If the House's actions aren't reversed, they would bust the current budget caps to the tune of $50 billion over the next five years. It's troubling to watch the House voting to slash the OEA, while standing firm in supporting costly, unneeded sacred cows like the F-35 combat aircraft. Even slightly slowing the pace of the F-35 program would pay for the OEA's programs many times over. Funding programs that will help communities make the transition to more diversified economies that can weather reductions in Pentagon spending will make it easier to craftbudgets that put security concerns above pork barrel politics. When the House and Senate put together a final Pentagon budget proposal later this year, funding for OEA's crucial programs should be restored.
ISSN:1524-1939