Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work has said the Pentagon took a long-term view of its readiness, workforce and modernization needs when the agency crafted a budget for fiscal 2017, Defense News reported Tuesday.Jim Garamone writes Work told reporters during a press conference the $582.7 billion Defense Department budget request conforms to a bipartisan spending bill that Congress approved in November.
Work added the proposed budget will also enable DoD to prepare for national security challenges posed by Russia, North Korea, China, Iran and the Islamic State organization.
DoD Comptroller Mike McCord said Tuesday that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter sought to create a balanced fiscal 2017 spending plan in an effort to help the U.S. military manage current and future combat operations, according to a subsequent report by Garamone.
“Leaders have to step back and ask themselves ‘are we investing enough?” McCord told DoD News.
He added the budget offers a 1.6 percent salary increase for service members, the publication reports.
