Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn on Wednesday called on Congress to complete work on a defense spending bill for Fiscal 2011. “Unfortunately, if the Congress leaves the department on a year-long continuing resolution for Fiscal 2011 at reduced funding levels, we will likely see a drop in both effectiveness and efficiency this year,” Lynn told the House Armed Services Committee while testifying on the Pentagon’s efficiency initiative and budget matters. The continuing resolution, if it remains in place, will provide $530 billion for national defense this fiscal year, down about $18 billion from the Pentagon’s original budget request. Lynn said the reduced level “would cause severe problems, likely requiring us to curtail critical activities needed to support our troops and carry out our national security mission.” (Lynn’s prepared remarks) (See also Budget Outlook from the Daily Report archives)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.