MEDIA ADVISORY: Experts Anticipate Release of Pentagon Budget
FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2012
CONTACT: Bridget Nolan, Director of Communications, 707-287-5739
Washington D.C. – The Pentagon is scheduled to release its Fiscal Year 2013 budget next week. Although the full details of the President’s request will not be made public until Monday, February 13, 2012, the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation anticipates the following details to be included:
• A request of $525 billion in base spending, which represents a $6 billion decrease from the budget approved by Congress in 2012.
• A request of $88.4 billion in funding for ongoing war operations.
• A two year delay of the Ohio-Class replacement strategic nuclear submarine and slowed procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
• A reduction in military end strength and authorization of a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process to identify possible savings.
The Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation commends the Pentagon for finding savings and making necessary cuts to scale back the military budget. However, this is only a modest first step towards fiscal responsibility. The Center believes that more cuts, if strategically driven, could be made while still maintaining the safety and security of the United States.
The Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation will be available for comment when the full details of the Pentagon budget are released Monday, February 13, 2012.