WASHINGTON (June 16, 2010) -- The fiscal 2011 defense budget request continues and builds on the reforms of the fiscal 2010 budget, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on defense today.
The proposed base budget request is $549 billion, a 3.4 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The budget request allows real growth of 1.8 percent, reflecting the administration's commitment to modest, steady and sustainable real growth in defense spending, Gates said.
The secretary testified alongside Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The request takes aim at programs that were excessive or performing poorly. These include ending the Navy's EPX intelligence aircraft, the third-generation infrared surveillance program, the next generation CGX cruiser, the net-enabled and controlled command and control program, and the Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System. The request completes the C-17 airlifter program and closes the production line.
The request ends the second engine for the F-35 joint strike fighter, "as whatever benefits might accrue are more than offset by excess costs, complexity and associated risks," Gates said.
The secretary was precise in spelling out his opposition to the last two of those programs in particular.
