Statement of Robert F. Hale, Assistant Director, National Security Division, Congressional Budget Office
Abstract
I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the Administration's proposed drawdown of U.S. military forces and the associated budget reductions. These last few months, the nation's attention has been riveted on the war in the Middle East. At the same time, the Administration has proposed the largest reduction in U.S. military forces since the end of the Vietnam War. Like the Administration's budget proposal, my testimony today will focus on the proposed reduction of forces. After a brief discussion of the overall budget proposal, I will analyze the details of the Administration's plan in categories proposed by the Chairman. I will first discuss changes in the number of U.S. forces, including the effects of those changes on the balance of military power between the United States and its potential adversaries. Next, I will talk about spending related to the readiness of U.S. forces and overhead activities. Finally, I will address the modernization of U.S. forces, including the near-term effects of the force reductions and the longer-run influence of spending on research and development. The testimony reaches several conclusions: (1) The proposed cuts in forces should permit compliance with the limits on budget authority in last year's budget agreement; (2) the proposed cuts worsen the balance of military forces with potential adversaries, but those negative effects may be offset by other military advantages; (3) Trends in modernization among categories of weapons will be mixed between now and 1995, but remaining forces should be able to operate at current levels of readiness for war if overhead activities can be reduced in proportion to other cuts in operating costs; and (4) In the long run, substantial real increases in the U.S. defense budget would be required to modernize fully remaining U.S. forces with the new weapons now planned. To avoid budget increases, the Congress will have to be highly selective in choosing new weapons to be bought.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA529822
Entities
People
- Robert F. Hale
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office