Budget

DoD faces possible $19B shortfall

DoD Buzz reports that the DoD budget in 2011 may be short $19 billion.

Federal News Network Staff

December 10, 2010 3:45 pm

< a min read

The Pentagon will be left $19 billion short of its 2011 budget request if the House version of a Continuing Resolution makes it to President Obama.

DoD Buzz reports that budget writers in the House did, however, grant the military permission to move money around within the defense budget.

A Pentagon spokeswoman told DoD Buzz that even if adequate funds were provided, a continuing resolution usually does not provide adequate flexibility to meet operating and wartime needs. Congress would have to approve it. The spokeswoman said the House version of the CR would give DoD some added flexibility to help meet some of those needs.

The shortfall means the Pentagon may be tempted to eliminate funding for some projects. That could include the second engine for the F-136 Joint Strike Fighter and the Marine’s Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.