Pentagon Calls on Congress to Change Defense Bill by Jon Harper, Stars and Stripes
The Pentagon called on Congress to change the $600 billion defense bill that a powerful congressional committee recently approved, surprising given the fact that the Defense Department generally refuses to comment on pending legislation.
In response to a reporter’s question about the legislation, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby expressed Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s unhappiness with the outcome….
Military leaders had proposed cuts to troop benefits, older weapon systems and excess infrastructure in its budget submission earlier this year in order to pump more money into readiness and modernization during a time of spending constraints.
But lawmakers defied the Pentagon’s requests. The Fiscal 2015 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday blocked several major Pentagon initiatives…