
The annual tradition of the military services budgeting within their allocated allowances only for the service chiefs to submit “wish lists” to Congress of items they would like to spend money on is not helpful when the Defense Department’s top line is stagnant, according to Pentagon budgetary officials.The practice of submitting unfunded priorities lists goes back at least 20 years and can help lawmakers identify where the individual services feel squeezed and where available funds would be most welcome, Pentagon…