The Unfunded

By Christopher J. Castelli / May 7, 2009 at 5:00 AM

Yesterday, we reported Defense Secretary Robert Gates had shaken up the budget ritual that lets the service chiefs present Congress with wish lists. This year, Gates has told the services that if they have any unfunded priorities, he'd love to hear about them -- thereby directing them to brief him before anything goes to Capitol Hill.

So who will take him up on that offer?

Rear Adm. John Blake, the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget, said today that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway are working on unfunded requirements lists for the fiscal year 2010 budget cycle, but Blake told reporters he had not seen either list and had no information about what they might include in terms of programs or dollar figures.

Earlier today, during a separate briefing, Vice Adm. Stephen Stanley, the Joint Staff's director for force structure and resources, said he is unaware of "unfunded requirements that have come up," though he said he expects there will be some. And Comptroller Robert Hale said he thought one combatant command -- maybe U.S. Northern Command -- had submitted some.

Pressed for more, Hale demurred. "You know, I think that this one, as far I'm concerned, is pre-decisional until they actually send them on their own as the military head to the Congress," he said.

But not before going to Gates.

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