The Pentagon's 2015 Budget Proposal (Updated)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel makes remarks to the press on looming budget cuts at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, February 24, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Mike Theiler

With 2015 Budget, Pentagon Looks Beyond Afghanistan -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Pentagon unveiled a $496 billion base budget on Tuesday that looks beyond Afghanistan to future U.S. security challenges after a dozen years of war, cutting the military to afford more training and new weapons as it adapts to an era of tighter spending.

The budget set the Obama administration on a collision course with Congress by trying to eliminate popular older weapons systems and curb military compensation while seeking $26.4 billion in additional defense spending to be paid for by closing tax loopholes and cutting mandatory spending.

The spending plan released on Tuesday means the Pentagon's base budget for the 2015 fiscal year essentially would remain flat for a third consecutive year as the department responds to directions to cut nearly $1 trillion in spending over a decade.

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon's 2015 Budget Proposal

Defense Budget Request Squares Priorities, Resources -- US Department of Defense
As Pentagon Budget Shrinks, Spending Points to Future Priorities -- WSJ
DoD Official: Extra $115 Billion Does Not Fund Carrier, Troops -- Defense News
Report: Experts say DOD war budget to outlast Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Obama Requests ‘Smaller’ $500 Billion Defense Budget -- Defense One
Obama scales back military spending, requests defense budget cuts -- UPI
DoD Secretary Hagel Comments on President's FY 2015 Budget -- Pacific News Agency
DoD Proposes $154 Billion for New Weapons, R&D in 2015 -- Defense News
Pentagon seeks weapon spending $25 billion less than planned -- Chicago Tribune/Bloomberg
US Navy Budget Takes Bite Out of Aircraft, Weapons -- Defense News
Navy 2015 Budget Nearly Halves LCS, F-35 Buys -- National Defense
US Army Plans to Cut 3 of 13 Aviation Brigades by 2019 -- Defense News
Army Budget Makes Force Structure, Modernization Cuts Official -- National Defense
MDA’s $7.459 Billion Budget Request Protects Defense Priorities -- Defense Daily
DOD Officials: Another Budget Sequester Would Increase Risk -- US Department of Defense
White House seeks halt to military spending cuts -- L.A. Times
2015 defense plan would keep links to Europe -- Washington Post/AP
Budget day: Pay and benefits stall as readiness spending climbs -- Stars And Stripes
Pentagon Chooses Machinery Over Manpower in Budget Battle -- Dan Lamothe, The Complex/Foreign Policy
Pentagon Budget Targets Pay, Benefits, Tricare -- Military.com
Hagel Outlines Compensation Reform Proposals in Budget Request -- US Department of Defense

Pentagon Defends Their Budget Proposals

Big budget cuts pose 'tough, tough choices' for Pentagon: Hagel -- Reuters
DOD Budget Request Adapts to Fiscal Realities, Hagel Says -- US Department of Defense
Hagel: Severe Budget Cuts Will Compromise National Security -- US Department of Defense
Defense Secretary Hagel defends the Pentagon’s proposed budget and cuts -- Washington Post
Hagel, Dempsey defend proposed cuts in military strength -- Washington Times
Dempsey: Troops Will Gripe But Accept Benefit Cuts -- Military.com

Political Reaction To The Pentagon's Budget Proposals

Defense Cuts Anger US Lawmakers -- Voice of America
GOP Hawks Blast Obama Budget; $26B Wish List Could Be Doomed -- Defense News
McCain lashes defense secretary Hagel over cuts to Pentagon budget -- New York daily News

Commentaries And Analysis On The Pentagon's 2015 Budget Proposals

Pentagon Budget Request Seeks Capability Over Capacity -- Michael Bruno, Aviation Week
Trimming U.S. military spending -- Japan Times editorial
Pentagon Itself Admits Dangers Of Smaller Military -- Investor.com
Budget realignment reflects Pentagon’s vision of covert and endless war -- The Hill
Pentagon Wants to Keep Controversial War Budget Beyond Afghanistan -- Stephanie Gaskell, Defense One
New, smaller US military has long road to reality -- Adam Molon, CNBC
Pentagon Leaders Working to Define Military’s Post-War Purpose -- Kevin Baron, Defense One
Pentagon budget: 4 ways White House wants to change the military -- Anna Mulrine
The Pentagon's Phony Budget War -- Mattea Kramer, Mother Jones
Don't give up on spending discipline at the Pentagon -- William D. Hartung, The Hill
DoD’s $31 Billion Pay, Benefits 2015 Bet; Hill Asks, What About 11 Carriers? -- Colin Clark, Breaking Defense

WNU Editor: The Pentagon's 2015 Budget proposal is here.