WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Pentagon last week cut $4 billion from the Army and Navy 2007 draft budgets, and added $2.5 billion just to pay for increased fuel costs.
InsideDefense.com, an independent news Web site, reported this week the cuts were contained in Program Budget Decision 723, one of a series of last-minute budget adjustments the Pentagon makes annually as it prepares its budget request for Congress.
The Army lost $2.1 billion over the fiscal year 2007 to 2011 budget plan. The Navy took cuts equaling $2.2 billion over the same period. The Air Force was granted an extra $1.1 billion, primarily to pay for increased fuel costs.
The PBD cancels the Army's plan to increase the number of its pre-positioned brigade combat sets stationed on ships to be available quickly in the event of an unforeseen conflict, Inside Defense.com reported.
The Air Force has been directed to delay the Airborne Laser development program -- a boost-phase missile intercept system -- and the Navy took cuts in its military construction accounts.
The Marine Corps' procurement accounts were cut as well, including more than $1 billion over the five years for the V-22 Osprey. That cut was made in anticipation of unexplained anticipated "cost savings," according to a senior military official who expressed doubt those savings are going to materialize. If they do not, the program will likely have to be cut or delayed, or more money found to pay for the Marine transport aircraft in later years.
The roughly $450 billion Pentagon budget request will be delivered to Congress in late January or early February.
