Gates planning major changes in Defense Programs budget

[Kdillard]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040304080.html



"Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is expected to announce on Monday the restructuring of several dozen major defense programs as part of the Obama administration's bid to shift military spending from preparations for large-scale war against traditional rivals to the counterinsurgency programs that Gates and others consider likely to dominate U.S. conflicts in coming decades.

Gates's aides say his plan would boost spending for some programs and take large whacks at others, including some with powerful constituencies on Capitol Hill and among influential contractors, making his announcement more of an opening bid than a decisive end to weeks of sometimes acrimonious internal Pentagon debate.

Among the programs expected to be heavily cut is the Army's Future Combat Systems, a network of vehicles linked by high-tech communications that has been plagued by technical troubles and delays; with a price tag exceeding $150 billion, it is now one of the most costly military efforts.

Gates also is considering cutting a new $20 billion communications satellite program and reducing the number of aircraft carriers from 11 to 10, and he plans to eliminate elements of the decades-old missile defense effort that are over budget or considered ineffective, according to industry and administration sources.

They cautioned that not all the details have been decided."


Very good news and I look forward to hearing further details on Monday.

[tabatha]

1. Yes, the genius of keeping Gates on.

It is an easier sell, without accusations of making America less safe.

[Kdillard]

2. Yep while many people were screaming it has turned out to be

a very good move. Hopefully this will be the start of putting the military on an effective diet. I am glad Gates is leading on this and hope it will turn out well.

[uponit7771]

3. Cutting "Missle Defense" (aka star wars) would be good also. A lot of the 600 billion we spend a yr

...in defense goes to these programs like the 150 billion dollar one stated above.

The defense department has gotten way to big and we spend a lot of money on it...