Air Force considering 'controversial' budget shifts

The Air Force is considering "bold and likely controversial changes" to future budgets in response to the defense secretary's call for more investment in critical capabilities, according to acting Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan.

Donovan told an audience today at the Defense News conference the service is considering major budget shifts that could result in divesting legacy fleets or systems in order to invest in higher value programs.

"The Air Force is leading the way with bold and likely controversial changes to our future budgets," Donovan said. "We need to shift funding -- and allegiance -- from legacy programs we can no longer afford due to their incompatibility with future battlefields and into the capabilities and systems the nation requires for victory."

Maj. Gen. Michael Fantini, director of the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, said during a panel at the conference that although he wouldn't discuss details of the fiscal year 2021 budget submission, the service is working to determine what "tough choices" it will need to make in order to shift to the future force.

"Everybody loves the future force," Fantini said. "The challenge is what are you going to stop doing to pivot to the future."