President Barack Obama today sent to Congress a proposed defense budget of $671 billion for fiscal 2012. The request for the Department of Defense (DoD) includes $553 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defense programs and $118 billion to support "overseas contingency operations" (OCO), primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"This budget represents a reasonable, responsible and sustainable level of funding, the minimum level of defense spending that is necessary, given the security challenges we are facing around the globe," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
While this budget request seeks "continued efficiencies" in 2012 and beyond, the absence of an appropriation for fiscal 2011 threatens to cause serious inefficiencies and problems this year. DoD strongly urges the Congress to pass a defense appropriation bill as part of the overall legislation to fund government activities in fiscal 2011.
Highlights of the proposed DoD budget are outlined in the attached summary and charts. For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2012 budget proposal, please visit http://www.budget.mil and download the "FY 2012 Budget Request Overview Book." Budget-related transcripts can also be viewed at http://www.defense.gov/transcripts .
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