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Subscribe to RSSThe Pentagon announced a new plan that will streamline U.S. forces, look at possible base closures and expand cyber warfare capability in order to meet tough budget constraints. NBC's Chris Clackum reports.
The Pentagon proposed budget cuts on Thursday that would slash the size of the U.S. military by eliminating thousands of jobs, mothballing ships and trimming air squadrons in an effort to shift strategic direction and reduce spending by $487 billion over a decade.
The funding request, which includes painful cuts for many states, sets the stage for a new struggle between President Barack Obama's administration and Congress over how much the Pentagon should spend on national security as the country tries to curb trillion-dollar budget deficits.
US Army chief 'comfortable' with smaller force as Pentagon prepares cuts
"Make no mistake, the savings we are proposing will impact all 50 states and many districts across America," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told a news conference at the Pentagon. "This will be a test of whether reducing the deficit is about talk or action."
Obama will also ask Congress to approve a new round of domestic base closures, although the timing of this was left vague and there is little chance that lawmakers would agree to this in a presidential election year.
Panetta, previewing plans that will be formally announced next month, said he would ask for a $525 billion base budget for the 2013 fiscal year, the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, that the Pentagon has asked for less than the previous year.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, outlines the main areas of proposed spending cuts during a news conference at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Panetta said he would seek $88.4 billion to support combat operations in Afghanistan, down from $115 billion in 2012 largely due to the end of the war in Iraq and the withdrawal of U.S. forces there at the end of last year.
Congress requires that the Pentagon cut $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years -- $259 billion will be cut in the first five years (2013 to 2018).
No, Obama isn't actually proposing to cut defense spending
"We believe this is a balanced and complete package," Panetta said, with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side.
Some lawmakers were quick to dispute him.
"Taking us back to a pre-9/11 military force structure places our country in grave danger," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee that will hold hearings on the Pentagon budget plan.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the Panetta plan "ignores the lessons of history." He said it provides for a military that is "too small to respond effectively to events that may unfold over the next few years."
Dempsey, however, said the military is united in its support for the new approach.
"This budget is a first step — it's a down payment — as we transition from an emphasis on today's wars to preparing for future challenges," he said, adding, "This budget does not lead to a military in decline."
While the timelines for each of these cuts vary, NBC News reports where the biggest cuts are coming from for now:
Benefits
Members of the military will receive full pay raises in 2013 and 2014, but their raises will be "limited" beginning in 2015. Health care fees for retirees will increase, including co-pays and deductibles.
Army
Active duty force will decrease by about 75,000 soldiers to 490,000. (For perspective, there are about 565,000 soldiers on active duty today and there were about 480,000 soldiers on active duty on 9/11/01.)
Marine Corps
Active duty force will decrease by about 20,000 Marines to 182,000 total. (For perspective, there are about 202,000 Marines on active duty today, and there were about 173,000 on 9/11/01.)
Air Force
Eliminate six of the 60 Air Force tactical air squadrons, as well as one training squadron.
The Pentagon will eliminate: 27 aging C-5As (leaving behind 52 C-5Ms and 222 C-17s); 65 oldest C-130s (leaving behind 318 C-130s) and they will divest 38 C-27s.
Navy
Retire seven cruisers that have not been updated with ballistic missile defense capabilities or that are in need of significant maintenance. Some fleet support ships will also be retired, and the building of several ships (1 large deck, 1 sub, 2 littoral combat ships, and 8 joint high speed vessels) will all delayed by one year or more.
The defense spending plan is scheduled to be submitted to Congress as part of the administration's full 2013 budget on Feb. 13.
Prominent in the Obama plan is a renewed focus on Asia, where China's rapid military modernization has raised worry in Washington and rattled U.S. allies.
NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube as well as Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced his plan for cutting $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
So according to DS Panetta, if we got out of Afghanistan we could save an additional $88.4B next year alone?
Congress just approves 1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, yet they slash our own military. Makes a hell of a lot of sense to me. Who we got running this country, tweedle dee and tweedle dumb?
I often wonder about this myself. People say, "We don't need to be interfering in other country's business," like we only do this with MILITARY actions. What do people think the purpose of foreign aid is? It is not hearts and flowers. It is to gain influence, pure and simple.
Maybe we should stop giving aid, close all our world wide bases and just have our military stay right here in American, within our borders (training for what I don't know). Then when there is a flood or earthquake somewhere, we can say, "Sorry, we only help ourselves. Our military used to only be for kicking butt and taking over the oil anyway. We never helped anybody." Egypt needs aid? Look somewhere else--we ain't got it! Africa--tough luck! Tsunami--get lost, you whiner!
Maybe the military budget can and should be trimmed, but there is ALOT of waste in our government, and I mean alot. When are our leaders gonna look seriously at that?
Only some of this post was sarcasm.
Obama Administration, and the DOD stupid for coming out with Military budget cuts NOW?....cut your own throat can I say? More job loss, just what the American people in those targeted states want to hear.
The only problem with these "cuts" and in the final analysis they likely are not, is that the government will simply move the money somewhere else (social programs). Our federal government is only focused on providing handouts for votes; the military only garners votes when we are threatened. Redistribution of wealth provides a wellspring of voting power particularly with those segments most unprepared to understand the political environment.
I'm all for reducing the budget, and to cut the military spending on $10,000 wrenches, $12,000 toiletes, etc. but cutting jobs?? Our economy hasn't recovered yet, & closing bases around the country, leaving many ppl without jobs is ridiculous. Closing bases does not just affect those on the base, it also affects those communities surrounding the bases. This will have far reaching economic impact in an extremely negative way. There are many areas where the military could look within their spending habits & get rid of all the excessive spending. The government needs to get some common sense....
Mom,
Who cares about those people? /s/
I do agree about spending habits, but I have been in the military along time and we make do without alot of stuff due to budgets. We monitor our paper and pens and make a wish list for the things we need, like a new printer if our old one is getting onery. (Disclosure: I am full time ANG; it's been a long time since I was active duty.) We spend by the quarter and watch every dime. The DoD and Pentagon could take some lessons from the National Guard, because we live within our means and do it cheaper every day, with less people.
I love our country and wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but our government needs to get serious about spending. I don't care which party, just do it right and do it honestly! But that is pie in the sky...
I wonder if they'll still be able to attend Barney's wedding.
Since you'll be there, I don't think they will.
Unless my Obamacheck shows up, I'm on staycation.
Okay, then pass the budget to raise taxes on all Americans and that means corporations, cause they are people too.
Blasphemy!!
So? According to DS Panetta we could save an additional $88.4B next year alone?
Its not Panettas' decision. Its done by the head Muslim, OBAMA! Socialism here we come.
I think anyone who runs for a political job in this country should have at least an IQ of 100. That means we need to vote out all of them. Try to find somebody who has a lick of sense to replace them.
How come y'all don't never hear of anyone in the whitehouse taking pay cuts?
I guess everyone now thinks that as long as we have Obama and SEAL Team Six.... that's all we need.
Are you saying that Seal Teams are not effective in their job? They managed to do a job in a very efficient manner that Bush was unable to figure out in 7 years...
BAD IDEA! Don't think that our enemies don't know of these cutbacks. They are licking their chops to get another chance. Why don't Congress slash their salaries or work for free. Let's seem scatter if that happens.
Jerks.
Maybe if we stopped giving money to foreign countries, brought back troops from countries where they don't need to be in, stop building 700 million dollar embassies in Iraq and just stop this idiot war in Afghanistan like yesterday, just maybe there would not have to be deep cuts in our Military, China will pass the U.S. economically and it will do so militarily as well that you can count on!
This should really pose no threat to the homeland. Smaller, leaner, and more dedicated military is warranted at this time. But now we need additional cuts in the domestic budget in order to get our house in order, and of course you always have to have and eye on the world situations.
But we also need to become "energy independent" as possible going into the future and our President has put the ka bash on any improvement in that area. He has to become the President of ALL and not just the President of ALL when it is expedient to his political goals.
Then in lies our dilemma, More of the Same Old Same Old as we all look for a better leader.
They are working toward a military that can ONLY bomb the enemy---no boots on the ground.
Small potatoes, as long as America refrains from nation building our DOD will have all the recourse's it will need. Including the Officers Golf course on Bermuda.
Clinton cut our military by 60,000 when that idiot was in office. Now this idiot want to make more cuts. Our country will be ripe for the picking' when the Muslim's and any other force wants to take us over. We won't have enough men and women to even protect us here in this country! Enough of this Muslims, Dems and Liberals. m Lets get him and the rest of them the HELL OUT!!!
Rangers Lead The Way!!!
The Muslims taking us over? Are you insane? Rhetorical question.
When are you lunatics going to come up with something intelligent to say when it comes to our defense or the military?
Muslims taking over the united States!! What stupidity!! Get informed, get educated. Fat chance.
The military was cut by over 400,000 men under Clinton.
AND what do you belive is the goal of the Muslim cult???
Here we are spending all this money on defense and yet we are scared to death that Iran will build one nuclear bomb. We got bombs. We don't need but a few people to push the buttons. Eliminate everything else. Mission accomplished. Deficit fixed.
Cutting the military budget instead of eliminating unnecessary projects and waste will come back to bite hell out of us!! AND, cutting thousands of jobs at this point in time does NOT sound prudent!!!
Not cut, just cleaned..
I think cuts are prudent. To ensue that we can militarily handle any contingency that might pop up, I would urge Congress to tie the cuts to the reinstatement of the Draft. That way, we can reduce the Force Structure and then throw green draftees into any situation that the decreased military can't handle with the fewer number of Volunteers.
Green Draftees can't do shi*! You obviously have never been in the military. It takes time, training and more time to get experienced enough to defend a nation. Weaker military means easier take over by a hostile nation! Wake up Mc Fly!
Butkus (I met him when I played college ball in Indiana, he was my idol)
I am a retired Marine. You didn't catch my sarcasm, Lad! We are of the same opinion, methinks!
Not meant towards you Marine, former Army Ranger. That was meant for JCG907700
Butkus - HooAhh
Actually that was me. I was being sarcastic and meant absolutely nothing I said. I was making fun of all the "Turn your swords into Plowshares" maggots. They don't realize that if they turn their swords into plowshares, they will end up plowing for the guys with the swords!
Of course the conservatives and Republicans are going to criticise the cuts because they come from a Democratic administration. Today's Republican party and the conservative movement would gripe no matter what was proposed by a Democrat just because it was proposed by a Democrat. Unless a conservative or Republican gains the White House neither group will ever be satisfied and will always be trying to block not work with the Democrats. Defense is the sacred cow of the Republicans and conservatives, unless it involves the social program side like homeless programs, job programs, VA benefits and hospitals, etc. in which case, like all social programs that have positive effects and do good for our country, they are ripe for Republican and conservative planned budget cuts. The Republicans and conservatives keep accusing Obama of trying to create a class war but it is their policies and refusal to create fair tax codes, rein in breaks for CEOs that award themselves thousands in bonuses while outsourcing jobs or allowing their companies to fail to follow regulations and similar nonsense. Instead of the same old tax and spend rant they hurl against Democrats they are guilty of cut all programs and spending in anything that helps the poor and middle class. Any Republican or conservative that claims they understand the problems of the poor and middle class is lieing through their teeth.
Panetta is a sick and dangerous man. He's as big an as$ towards the military as it gets and he is much the same mind as obama that the government owns the people it represents. Clinton once eluded to that back in 93 that somehow the "people" are subservientto the government if they "expect proper representation". To me, this is another explanation of how the US is crumbling.
You are totally correct. The view expressed by Clinton is a communist view!
And it was very bloated military budget that the Communist Soviets could no longer bear that eventually destroyed them.....
LMAO Why are the Libtards on here crying your great leader Obama promised you hope and change, well here it is enjoy it LMAO.
Cry some more clif. LOL
Crying, I'm sitting here laughing my a-- off watching other people on here cry, you who voted for this idiot and now you are getting all the hope and change you asked for, enjoy it. LMAO
Is this a real reduction or just a reduction of a proposed increase that's already scheduled?
Maybe, just maybe it is time to rethink our global presence to protect those who produce goods shipped to the USA and take away our jobs. With our carriers, submarines and bombers we do not need a presence on land bases. Why cut home bases when it is tactically not feasible to have more than 4 refueling bases around the world.
If we think Iran is an issue, the next time they make a dumb remark, take out their navy and warn them the next time they squeak their air bases, electric, water, sewer and bridges will be taken out by 117's and B2's.