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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--and $130.0 billion for "overseas contingency operations," including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Administration also requested $75.9 billion in supplemental DOD appropriations for FY2009 to cover war costs. The Administration's DOD request, made public May 7, 2009, incorporated Defense Secretary Robert Gates' April 6 recommendations to curtail funding for several major weapons programs focused on conventional warfare. 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 warned that a bill that continued either program 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 was $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. The conference report on the authorization bill authorizes a total of $680.2 billion for military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) and defense-related activities of other federal agencies, which is $14.9 million more than the Obama Administration requested. The conference report, which terminates the F-22 but continues the alternate engine program, was adopted by the House on October 8 by a vote of 281-146. The Senate adopted the conference report October 22 by a vote of 68-29 and President Obama signed the bill (P.L. 111-84) on October 28. The House passed its version of the FY2010 defense appropriations bill (H.R. 3326) on July 30, by a vote of 400-30. The bill 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, the Senate rejected two amendments 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 passed the bill October 6 by a vote of 93-7.

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