
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Wednesday the long-term effects of the pandemic will lead to “downward pressure” on the Pentagon’s budget, with the department turning to legacy system cuts to save funds. Esper told attendees during the virtual Aspen Security Summit the trillions of dollars authorized for emergency spending bills will lessen the Pentagon’s probability of receiving the three to five percent annual budget growth he’s called for previously to meet modernization initiatives. “That’s why I continue to beat…