Unfunded Needs Eyed

Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), James Inhofe (R-OK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are pressing not only the armed services but also the combatant commands to submit unfunded requirements lists to Congress for fiscal year 2013.

On April 23, the senators fired off letters to the service chiefs asking them to “reconsider” their decisions not to submit such lists, which have been routinely provided to Capitol Hill for years in response to requests from the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. But the senators are also casting a wider net in pursuit of the department's unfunded needs. The same day, the senators also sent requests for such lists to the combatant commanders, noting these generals and admirals have a “crucial role in translating national-level strategy into operations” within their areas of responsibility.

Inside the Pentagon first reported in March that the military's unfunded requirements lists could disappear amid the fiscal crunch facing the DOD and other government agencies. Last year, the unfunded requirements submitted by the department exceeded $1 billion.

And InsideDefense.com reported this month that a new consolidated list of combatant commanders’ priorities has been developed to shape the FY-14 budget process.