Mike McCord

Defense Department Comptroller Mike McCord said the prospect of a continuing resolution into the new year is one of the biggest challenges DoD will face. House Republicans seem poised to act on a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through current spending levels until March.

The Obama administration has already voiced its objections to the major reshuffling of DoD’s organizational chart the Senate proposed in its version of this year’s Defense authorization bill.

DoD says BRAC would bring big savings in a time when it’s facing big budget shortfalls if sequestration returns.

DoD’s 2017 budget includes few changes to pay and benefits, but DoD facilities and procurement take a major hit. The proposal includes an $8.1 billion reduction to acquisition programs, a $1 billion cut to new construction and severe underfunding of base maintenance.

The Defense Department needs to find better ways to attract and retain nuclear forces in addition to funding nuclear modernization, according to U.S. Strategic Command’s leader Adm. Cecil Haney.

Navy officials told lawmakers facilities sustainment cuts have hurt personnel services and building modernization efforts.

The Pentagon bolsters its plea for $1 trillion in nuclear modernization funds as the weapons age and funding is limited.

The Defense Department is ramping up its spending in Europe to counter Russian aggression, despite a $17 billion deficit in the fiscal 2017 budget.

Despite lower funding levels, Defense leaders count their blessings with two years of budget certainty.

Pentagon officials are adamant that sequestration-level spending is incompatible with the current Defense strategy. But, they also have serious concerns with the plan House Republicans released this week to boost Defense funding, saying it would limit their options and keep the military in a state of budget uncertainty.