Defense Budget Increases Inadequate to Support the Military’s Plans and Programs
Mackenzie Eaglen /
In a few weeks, President Obama will submit his fiscal year (FY) 2011 defense budget request to Capitol Hill along with a myriad of important supporting documents including the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), long-range shipbuilding and aviation plans, and the Quadrennial Defense Review.
While many expect a minimal topline increase for defense spending again in FY 2011 (one to two percent real growth), this modest bump is still insufficient to pay all the Pentagon bills. The underfunding of defense plans has become predictable and why many analysts discount as unrealistic Pentagon budget outyear projections.
Too often the dilemma is simply ignored, glossed over, or used in attempts to force changes in U.S. foreign policy by statements like “the defense budget has been growing since 9/11”– therefore implying that even if there is a problem, there shouldn’t be. Instead of learning to live with the chronic condition, the underfunding of defense requirements should be addressed openly with realistic solutions.