Managing DoD Under Sustained Topline Pressures

摘要

Both the ongoing global economic crisis and historical defense budget trends indicate that the Department of Defense (DoD) could soon be facing a period of sustained pressure to reduce its topline budget. Since 1947, DoD has experienced cycles of decreased budgets after periods of significant increase. Therefore, the Department should consider how it might cope if it again finds itself in this predicament. The Chairman of the Defense Business Board (DBB) requested a review of the existing culture and processes that form the basis for DoD's program and budget decision-making and to identify proposals that might enable significant and meaningful trade-offs that more accurately reflect budget priorities. This report outlines a strategy for DoD to examine its management processes in order to guide it through anticipated future budget pressures.