Congressional Research Service Predicts Pentagon Underestimates Needs

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates that to meet the Pentagon's baseline plan for funding that up to $43 billion more a year will be required in the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP). Aviation Week reports on a hearing held by the House Budget Committee where the CRS said there seemed to be a gap between planned funding and needs. While the Defense Budget is appropriated annually the Pentagon submits documentation supporting five years out requirements. That means for a program five years of funding and quantities are shown. The CRS bases this "gap" on the fact that personnel are planned to increase and those costs will also increase as well as new weapon systems costing more then currently anticipated. The Obama budget has been delayed two months and the effects of that plan may also increase out year requirements beyond that currently planned.