Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said late June 22 that he is aiming to add $37 billion to the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2018 defense budget request.But Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), who is still negotiating a figure with fellow lawmakers, indicated he might settle for a lower number if he can win assurances of more stability in future defense spending. Across-the-board budget cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 have created uncertainty for defense…
The House will leave for the Fourth of July recess without moving forward on its $1.15 trillion fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with a procedural vote to […]
A bipartisan group of six House legislators have introduced the Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act–a bill to improve drone collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the […]
Nearly all of the Department of the Air Force’s fiscal 2027 procurement and research and development (R&D) budget for space-based air moving target indication (SB-AMTI) and the Space Data Network […]
House appropriators have said they’re “seriously concerned” with Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 delays, as their fiscal year 2027 defense spending bill shifts funds to support the Marine Corps’ […]
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said late June 22 that he is aiming to add $37 billion to the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2018 defense budget request.
But Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), who is still negotiating a figure with fellow lawmakers, indicated he might settle for a lower number if he can win assurances of more stability in future defense spending. Across-the-board budget cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 have created uncertainty for defense planners.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
“There is value if we can get away from this and have more stability, more predictability for future years’ defense funding,” Thornberry told reporters.
Thornberry wants to devote much of the increase to missile defense, including buying more interceptor missiles and speeding up new capabilities, to address the growing threat from North Korea.
“I am still somewhat astonished that the administration’s request actually cuts missile defense $384 million from what we are spending this year,” he said. Thornberry plans to “put the foot to the gas pedal on missile defense.”
Critical munitions are also slated for increases in an amendment that Thornberry plans to propose to the FY 2018 defense authorization bill. The “chairman’s mark” is scheduled for release June 23, and the full HASC intends to mark up bill June 28.
House appropriators said they are skeptical the Defense Department will award the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract for the Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter program by the most recent […]
By 
