The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recently underscored the importance of having sufficient defense funding when it comes to maintaining the competitive advantage of the U.S.Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum over the weekend, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford expressed confidence in the military’s ability to defend the country against potential adversaries, the Defense Department reported Saturday.
Dunford noted, however, that the lack of “sustained predictable, adequate levels of funding†combined with a failure to “look carefully at those areas where we are challenged†would likely erode such confidence in the coming years.
His remarks come as the Defense Department prepares a $700B alternative budget proposal for 2020 to meet President Trump’s call for spending cuts across federal agencies. The revised DoD proposal is $33B lower than an earlier department draft.
