Defense Department Brass Tally Nearly $1 Billion In Unfunded 'Needs'

摘要

The Air Force, Navy and U.S. Special Operations Command have collectively tallied up nearly $1 billion in projects they would fund in fiscal year 2012 if lawmakers provided additional funding. In response to what has become a traditional request from the House Armed Services Committee's ranking member to identify funding needs beyond the spending request before lawmakers, service officials for a third consecutive year have served up modest replies compared to hefty wish lists of earlier years like FY-09, when the unfunded priorities lists totaled more than $30 billion. In fact, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey last month told Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking member, that the Army has no unfunded FY-12 needs, as InsideDefense.com first reported May 2.