The Bush Administration has put Congressional appropriators on notice that it will tolerate no more than a $4 billion cut to its 2007 defense budget request, reports Government Executive. House and Senate negotiators wanted to cut defense funding by nearly $6 billion to free up funds to restore cuts proposed for programs such as education and health care.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.