Fair Warning

Two key lawmakers today cautioned the Pentagon to avoid any preliminary action to implement force structure reductions proposed in the fiscal year 2013 budget request until congressional authorization is granted.

In a letter today to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ) outlined their concerns:

In our preliminary review of the fiscal year 2013 budget request, it has become clear that the Department intends to begin implementing decisions under this budget request by taking actions in fiscal year 2012.  It is also clear that there are programs where the Department plans to implement actions in 2012 before any of the congressional defense committees will have had an opportunity to act on the fiscal year 2013 budget request.  While we understand that doing so may help the Department achieve more “savings” than might be otherwise realized, the Department should avoid taking actions that would restrict Congress’ ability to consider and act on the fiscal year 2013 budget request.

We request that you not take actions to implement decisions that would be difficult or impossible to reverse by anticipating congressional approval of what may turn out to be very contentious proposals before the committees have had an opportunity to produce bills reflecting their responses to the fiscal year 2013 budget request.