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Summary

For the Department of Defense (DOD) in FY2010, the Administration requested a total of $663.8 billion in discretionary budget authority. This includes $533.8 billion for the so-called "base budget"--all DOD activities other than combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan--and $130.0 billion for what are termed "overseas contingency operations," including those in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Administration also requested $75.9 billion in supplemental DOD appropriations for FY2009 to cover war costs. This amount, plus the $65.9 billion "bridge fund" for FY2009 emergency war funding included in the Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY2008 (P.L. 110-252), brings the total appropriated for FY2009 war costs to $141.8 billion. The Administration's DOD request, made public May 7, 2009, incorporated Defense Secretary Robert Gates's April 6 recommendations concerning funding for several major weapons programs. While DOD long had been focused primarily on preparing for conventional warfare with cutting edge weapons like the Air Force's F-22 fighter, Gates said, U.S. forces are sufficiently superior to potential adversaries that DOD can set less technologically ambitious goals for future conventional weapons. This would allow DOD to focus more resources on equipment better suited to the type of operations underway in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gates said. The FY2010 national defense authorization bills drafted by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees generally supported this shift in policy, which the Obama Administration's budget request reflected. However, both committees added to their respective bills authorization to continue production of the Air Force's F-22 fighter, and to continue development of an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Obama Administration--like the preceding Bush Administration--had planned to terminate both programs and had warned that a bill that continued either one would be vetoed. On June 25, the House passed by a vote of 389-22 its version of the FY2010 national defense authorization act H.R. 2647, which would authorize a total of $534.0 billion for the DOD base budget--$264.8 million more than requested--and $129.3 billion for war costs. The bill also would authorize $16.5 billion for defense-related nuclear activities of the Energy Department, which is $83.3 million more than requested. On July 2, the Senate Armed Services Committee reported its version of the authorization bill, S. 1390, which would authorize $534.6 billion for the DOD base budget, $129.3 billion for war costs, and $16.4 billion for the Energy Department. The Senate passed the bill July 23 by a vote of 87-7 after adopting several amendments, including two that would, in effect, end production of the F- 22 and terminate the F-35 alternate engine programs, as the Administration had requested. On July 30, the House passed by a vote of 400-30 its version of the FY2010 defense appropriations bill (H.R. 3326) which would appropriate $497.6 billion for the DOD base budget (covering all accounts except military construction) and $128.2 billion for FY2010 war costs. As reported July 24 by the House Appropriations Committee, the bill would have continued F-22 production and the F-35 alternate engine programs. But the House adopted a floor amendment that would have the effect of terminating F-22 production. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported September 10 an amended version of H.R. 3326 which would appropriate $497.6 billion for the DOD base budget and $128.2 billion for war costs. The committee bill funded neither continued F-22 production nor the F-35 alternate engine. During floor debate, which began September 24, the Senate rejected an amendment that would have eliminated $2.5 billion for the purchase of 10 C-17 cargo planes, which the Senate committee added over the Administration's objection. The Senate is slated to resume debate on the bill October 5.

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