Four Top Pentagon Priorities for the Incoming Trump Administration
By Defense Opinion |
11/18/2024
By John Fairlamb, Defense Opinion Writer.
Here are a set of top priorities the new Trump administration should consider for the first 100 days in the Department of Defense. Taken together, they will help ensure a smooth transition from one administration to another, signal to allies and enemies alike our commitment to stability in Europe and make certain that the U.S. armed forces remain the world’s best.
Press to pass 2025 budget immediately
Congress has not passed any of the 12 budget bills required to fund government operations in fiscal year2025. Since the end of September, the Department of Defense (DOD) has been operating on a continuing resolution (CR) that runs through Dec. 20. Given leadership changes in Congress resulting from the election, there is talk of extending this CR to March to give new leadership time to coalesce. This means DOD could be operating on a CR for half of fiscal 2025.
CRs are disruptive to DOD operations and wasteful. New programs cannot begin and existing programs remain at FY-24 funding levels even if additional funding may be required to ensure continued progress. CRs delay contracts and grants, delay hiring affecting DOD’s ability to provide capabilities in a timely manner and increase bureaucratic workload reducing productivity. In 2019, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, said the CR cost the department $19 billion, or $23.4 billion in 2024 dollars.
https://www.defensedaily.com/commentary/four-top-pentagon-priorities-for-the-incoming-trump-administration/
