Pentagon officials want lawmakers to review the request by the end of May as it looks for ways to manage a $15 billion shortfall in its operating budget, Defense News reports.
Marcus Weisgerber writes the Pentagon has to cut $41 billion from its fiscal 2013 budget, containing $614 billion total, but is seeing warfighting costs in Afghanistan rise more than it previously estimated.
Weisgerber writes the Pentagon is limited to reprogram $7.5 billion under the fiscal 2013 Defense Appropriations Act, which says the department can move $4 billion within either its base budget or overseas contingency operations budget and $3 billion within only the OCO budget.
The Pentagon is also preparing to furlough its civilian workers to find savings under sequestration.