Huge Increase for the Pentagon, Nation Faces Deficits
Jan 23, 2002
For Immediate Release: January 23, 2002
Contact: John Isaacs 202-543-4100 ×131; Dan Koslofsky 202-543-4100 ×115
Washington Today President Bush announced a $48 billion increase for military programs. The Administration will send its official fiscal year 2003 budget request to Congress February 4th including a $379 billion allocation for defense.
“Since World War II, only twice has the military budget been increased more in a single year: 1952 and 1966,” argued John Isaacs, President of the Council for a Livable World. “This huge boost tops even the Reagan-era increases.”
Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office is now projecting deficits of $106 billion for 2002 and $80 billion for fiscal year 2003 if Administration tax cuts and increases in military spending are enacted.
“Just the increase from last year is greater than the military budget of any other nation in the world,” added Isaacs, “We now spend more on our military than the rest of the world combined.”
“With such a huge budget there is no need for the Pentagon to make tough choices and transform its forces,” continued Isaacs, “The new watchword at the Pentagon is ‘more.’”
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