Resources for Defense: A Review of Key Issues for Fiscal Years 1982-1986
Abstract
Reflecting recent international developments and concerns about the capability of US forces, the Congress provided a substantial real increase in defense budget authority for fiscal year 1981. The President's budget request for fiscal year 1982 proposes further real increases. As the Congress considers appropriate levels of defense spending for fiscal year 1982 and beyond, one of its key concerns will be allocating any further increases among competing defense requirements. This defense debate will probably revolve around four key issues: *Are improvements needed for US strategic forces? *Are improvements needed for conventional forces, particularly to enhance "readiness"? *How should resources be allocated between conventional forces supporting NATO and those required for operations outside Europe? *What are the prospects for maintaining a high-quality all-volunteer force? Undertaken at the request of the House Budget Committee, this report reviews a selection of program alternatives that illustrate how different approaches to addressing these four issues would affect defense budgets for fiscal years 1982-1986. Its point of departure is the CBO "baseline" projection of the defense budget, which derives from Congressional action on the President's budget submission for fiscal year 1981. A subsequent paper will evaluate the Defense Department's budget request for fiscal year 1982 in light of the findings of this report. In keeping with CBO's mandate to provide objective and nonpartisan analysis, this report offers no recommendations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA606839
Entities
People
- Dov S. Zakheim
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office