When I first read this, some apprehension but overall, I liked it. 8% each year for next 5 years is pretty significant out of a $850B budget. And it shows "good faith" in Step 1 which is to stop the deficit bleeding.
Pete Hegseth: Defense secretary orders military to prepare for major budget cuts | CNN Politics
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to prepare plans to make drastic budget cuts over the next five years, with an exception for border security, according to a new memo obtained by CNN.
The memo, dated Tuesday, calls for military leaders to provide a proposal for eight percent in budget cuts each year for the next five years. The proposals for the massive cuts to the Pentagon’s budget of approximately $850 billion are due by February 24,
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But reading further down seems to contradict this. I'm sure it'll be resolve soon but shows confusion at the highest level (no surprise with Trump).
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It was issued the day before President Donald Trump endorsed the House’s budget plan which includes a $100 billion increase in defense spending, suggesting a major disconnect within the administration.
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Hegseth himself called for an increase to the defense budget one week ago. While visiting Stuttgart, Germany, Hegseth said, “I think the US needs to spend more than the Biden administration was willing to, who historically underinvested in the capabilities of our military.”
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I'm not convinced that Trump can win this fight. I'm guessing there'll be some GOP who will push back hard. If not 8%, I'll take 4%. Looking forward to the fight.
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The proposal is certain to meet with resistance from Congressional Republicans, many of whom have called for increasing the defense budget and derided the Biden administration for only modest hikes in defense spending. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called for defense spending to gradually increase to more than $1 trillion per year.
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