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LEGISLATIVE NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU Spending Debate
President Donald Trump provided some details about his recommended budget for FY 2018, but debate continues over defense spending and whether his request actually is enough.
P
resident Donald Trump’s inau- gural address to Congress out- lined his plan for a broad shake-up of fiscal priorities aimed at boosting de- fense spending. Trump said, “Our military will be
given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve.” He continued, “I am sending Con-
gress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history.”
The budget would increase base de- fense spending by $54 billion, or about 10 percent, compared to FY 2017. The ad- ministration also submitted a $30 billion supplemental spending proposal for the current year. As of press time, specific details of the
administration’s plan were expected to come out sometime in early May. To fund the $54 billion increase for FY 2018 without increasing the deficit, the administration plans to cut $54 bil- lion from domestic programs, which is causing political turmoil on the Hill, given both parties’ spending priorities. Office of Management and Budget Di-
rector Mick Mulvaney said non-military spending will take the “largest proposed reduction since the early years of the Reagan administration.” While many in Congress, especially the defense hawks, have applauded the
defense increase, several in key leader- ship positions on the Armed Services committees say it is not nearly enough. The administration described the $603 billion budget request, which is an increase of $18.5 billion over what the Obama administration proposed for FY 2018, as an increase of 10 percent, but that number is only in comparison to sequestration levels of $549 billion. In reality, says Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Chair of the House Armed Services Tac- tical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, “That’s really only a 3-percent increase and is fake budgeting.” Sequestration has not been triggered since 2013. President Barack Obama’s 2017 budget request and 2018 planned request both went over sequestration limits, which required Congress to pass a separate bud- get deal to avoid automatic cuts in defense and nondefense spending. Trump’s budget proposal does not go
above the total cap. Instead, it takes $54 billion from domestic agencies and gives it to DoD. “We can and should do more,” was
House Armed Services Committee Chair Mac Thornberry’s (R-Texas) response to the administration’s budget proposal. Thornberry wants to increase the de- fense budget by as much as $100 billion. Senate Armed Services Committee
Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.) echoed the same frustration, stating: “With a world on fire, America cannot secure peace
IMAGES: SVIATLANA SHEINA/SHUTTERSTOCK, STANISLAV NOVOSELOV/SHUTTERSTOCK MAY 2017 MILITARY OFFICER 27
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www.capwiz.com/ moaa/home to send your legislators a MOAA- suggested message on key issues affecting the military community.
and should do more.
“ We can
— House Armed Services Committee Chair
”
Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)
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