The Defense Department and some politicians are becoming more vocal about their belief that the Budget Control Act will cause substantially larger defense spending cuts than the oft-advertised $350 billion in reductions by 2023.Aerospace Industries Association chief Marion Blakey estimates the real size of the cuts would be between $460 billion and $480 billion.
A Pentagon official also quoted the $460 billion figure, telling The Hill that calculations using President Obama’s 2012 budget request, rather than the fiscal baseline used by the Congressional Budget Office, generate this expectation.
According to a White House fact sheet, “the deal puts us on track to cut $350 billion from the defense budget over 10 years. These reductions will be implemented based on the outcome of a review of our missions, roles, and capabilities that will reflect the president’s commitment to protecting our national security.â€
The results of the Defense Department’s thorough review may ultimately not agree with this figure and battle lines are being drawn.
“That is simply more than we can sustain,†Blakey said. “Our position is: no more.â€
