ed. Ethan R. Rosenkranz
State of Play
Legislative: Pro-defense lawmakers and members of the Armed Services Committee continue to push back against the prospects of any further defense spending cuts beyond those implemented by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Often citing comments by former Secretary Gates and current Secretary Panetta that further cuts would be "devastating" to the armed services, lawmakers are urging the deficit Super Committee to focus on entitlements during its deliberations and spare security spending from any further reductions. Super Committee member Sen. Kyl stated that he would leave the Super Committee if it were to consider further cuts to the Pentagon's budget. In the event that the Super Committee fails to produce a deficit reduction package, Sen. Kyl believes he can find ways to prevent automatic sequestration cuts from impacting defense spending.
Executive: In response to expected cuts of between $350 billion (compared to CBO baseline) to $500 billion (compared to the President's FY12 budget request) over the next decade, the Pentagon has instructed the services to resubmit spending plans that were originally provided on August 23 to comply with new spending restrictions enacted in the Budget Control Act of 2011. Sec. Panetta continues to push back against the prospect of additional sequestration cuts of roughly $500-600 billion. Strategic cuts being considered, include: the Army cutting 10-15 brigade combat teams and reducing its end strength by 27,000 starting in 2015; the Navy reducing the number of cruisers and aircraft carriers in its fleet and reducing its total fleet to somewhere in the 200s; and the Marine Corps reducing end strength by at least 25,000.
News Articles and Commentary
Military.com: Official: Overseas Troop Reductions 'On the Table'
During his confirmation hearing, Undersecretary of Defense Ashton Carter tells SASC Chairman Levin that overseas troop reductions are "on the table." (9/14/11)
During his confirmation hearing, Undersecretary of Defense Ashton Carter tells SASC Chairman Levin that overseas troop reductions are "on the table." (9/14/11)
Article detailing the aerospace industry's lobbying effort against defense budget cuts. (9/14/11)
Defense News: Senate Appropriators: Kill JLTV, Cut JSF $1.2B
During Senate markup of the defense appropriations bill, lawmakers recommended terminating the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and cutting $1.2 billion from the Air Force's F-35 program. (9/13/11)
HASC Chairman McKeon says he would support raising some taxes in order to prevent further defense cuts. (9/12/11)
Washington Post: Defense Spending Must Have Credit Limits
Walter Pincus responds to comments by pro-defense lawmakers who oppose further curtailments on Pentagon spending. (9/12/11)
The Will and the Wallet: Stark Foreign Affairs and Defense Trade-Off Coming in '12
Matthew Leatherman opines that defense appropriators may find security off-sets in the State-Foreign-Operations budget in FY12. (9/12/11)
The Will and the Wallet: BCA Fingerprints on Senate 302(b)
Examination of the new Senate 302(b) allocations and their impact on security spending. (9/12/11)
National Defense: House Armed Services Committee to Lead Crusade Against Defense Cuts
Chairman McKeon argues that the structure of the Super-Committee indicates that the majority of cuts will come from the Pentagon. (9/12/11)
Defense News: What's the Price Tag for a Production F-35?
The F-35 will not cost $65 per unit in 2010 dollars. (9/12/11)
Washington Post: Call To Arms Over Pentagon Budget Accelerates
Preview of Congressional talking points in opposition to defense spending reductions. (9/8/11)
Defense News: GOP Rift Widens Over Pentagon Budget, Mission
Kate Brannen discusses GOP presidential contenders' differing positions on military spending. (9/8/11)
Government Executive: Defense Budget Could Fall by 31 Percent in 10 Years, Think Tank Says
Overview of a press conference held by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments discussing the potential for defense spending reductions of as much as 31%. (9/8/11)
For a copy of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments' report, please click here.
Defense News: U.S. Army to Industry: Help Us Save Money, Time
Joe Gould details the Army's new "affordability targets" and its efforts to work with contractors to eliminate "budget-busting requirements." (9/8/11)
Washington Post: Facing Tighter Budget, Army Gets Ready to Downsize
Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno discusses the likely shrinking of the Army's active duty force size. (9/8/11)
Battleland: 2009 Chart shows job creation effects of military spending
Battleland: 2009 Chart shows job creation effects of military spending
Mark Thompson shares a chart from 2009 showing the job creation effects of military spending versus other forms of government stimulus. (9/8/11)
Government Executive: 9/11 Led to Spending Binge on Homeland Security Grants
Article details more than $35 billion spent on homeland security grants (some on dubious items) since 9/11. (9/2/11)
Oxford Research Group: A War Gone Badly Wrong: The War on Terror Ten Years On
Analysis of the United States' response to 9/11: Was the response appropriate and wise, and were the results productive or do they indicate the need for a new security paradigm? (9/2011)
Slate: The True Cost of 9/11
Update to a 2008 Washington Post article that calculated the true costs of post-9/11 U.S. military engagements to be between $3-5 trillion. (9/1/11)
National Journal: War-Related Contracting Wasted up to $60 billion, Commission Reports
New Wartime Contracting Commission report finds that up to $60 billion has been lost to waste and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. (8/31/11)
Reports and Releases
Congressional Budget Office: Estimated Impact of Automatic Budget Enforcement Procedures Specified in Budget Control Act. (9/12/11)
U.S. Senate: Committee on Appropriations 302(b) sub-allocations for Fiscal Year 2012
U.S. Senate: Committee on Appropriations 302(b) sub-allocations for Fiscal Year 2012
Defense Subcommittee allocation remains unchanged from FY11, but is $24 billion less than the President's FY12 request. (9/7/11)
