Ashton Carter, deputy defense secretary, has directed defense agencies and military service branches to prepare for budget uncertainties resulting from sequestration and the end of the current continuing resolution.According to American Forces Press Service, Carter directed agencies to submit contract awards of more than $500 billion for research and development and production to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics prior to award.
Defense components must also submit assessments of potential impacts of budget uncertainty on science and technology accounts to the undersecretary and the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering.
Carter told components they have until Feb. 15 to review contracts and studies, cancel third- and fourth-quarter ship maintenance and to examine ground and aviation depot-level maintenance.
The continuing resolution, which holds funding at fiscal year 2012 levels, expires March 27.
So, no one can figure out how to pay for mandated budget cuts? The Pentagon wastes billions per year on guaranteed profit R&D contracts; some of which hold little or no probability of future worthiness. There are developmental projects wasting billions (F35 Fighter) that are going nowhere and hold very little promise that they ever will. If you couple Pentagon welfare programs with Dept., of Agriculture welfare programs you have plenty of excess private welfare programs and no need to cut the existing social safety net. Just who is on the fatter end of “entitlement” programs? It is especially facetious for conservatives and the Pentagon to try to convince us that budget cuts must weaken our existing defense and the costs must be born by our service people, overall strength and readiness, Cut the REAL fat, pay off China, end of story.