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underpants

(188,714 posts)

17. Bloat by design. Lots of pork there for Congress critters

Wed Feb 19, 2025, 06:05 PM

Wednesday

Nothing gets you reelected like jobs.

They’ll never balance the Pentagon budget. That’s not overspending, that’s accounting systems and money that can’t be specified. Dark ops aren’t a lot but hammers don’t really cost $500.

On 9/10/2001 Rumsfeld (not a fan) held a press conference saying he wanted to clean/tighten up Pentagon accounting. He stated that 1,400 different accounting systems (I’d bet that not just softwares programs) used in the DoD.

I can’t remember or find it but there’s a name for the day the Pentagon balances the books. It’s in September given the fiscal year. They just make journal entries that make everything square. The books have to balance.

They are trying.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/pentagon-fails-7th-audit-in-a-row-eyes-passing-grade-by-2028/

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White House eyes annual 8% cut to defense budget through 2030 [View all] kelly1mm Wednesday OP

he's doing everything he can think of to weaken this country eShirl Wednesday #1

There is (IMO) for sure massive bloat in the defense department. I am actually in favor of these cuts and kelly1mm Wednesday #4

Bloat by design. Lots of pork there for Congress critters underpants Wednesday #17

I disagree HarryM Thursday #54

Maybe Trump expects Russia Progressive dog Wednesday #2

Defense contractors won't allow it BigMin28 Wednesday #3

That was my thought #2. This is the test I have been waiting for. nt kelly1mm Wednesday #5

Having worked as a government contractor, in one job or another, slightlv Wednesday #15

With a cumulative 34-36% cut proposed I think almost everything would be cut if this comes to pass. This kelly1mm Wednesday #25

I'm tired of waiting for someone to serve them the koolaid... slightlv Wednesday #41

Contractors Wifes husband Thursday #47

Pet peeve was contractors Deminpenn Thursday #56

The worst was consultants Wifes husband Thursday #59

The consultants would get all their info from the career civil servants! Deminpenn Thursday #61

Absolutely Wifes husband Thursday #62

You cannot uproot military planning with 5 days of budget study bucolic_frolic Wednesday #6

..5 days of budget study...? Septua Thursday #45

I know a lot of planners and operational folks will be working around the clock to get this done. COL Mustard Thursday #55

Been there, done that Wifes husband Wednesday #7

If anyone stalls, cuts, or kills this it will be Republicans underpants Wednesday #8

Yep! This is my thought #2. Although maybe the Democrats will cross the aisle to vote for the cuts? nt kelly1mm Wednesday #10

The shipyards need to be doubling submarine construction Submariner Wednesday #9

An overall cut does not mean that everything gets cut at the same rate, or even that some projects are kelly1mm Wednesday #12

Of course the defence budget needs to be cut Wifes husband Thursday #48

Absolutely. harumph Wednesday #24

This fellow bubblehead agrees! Shipwack Wednesday #30

That's a 40% - 50% reduction of the entire budget by 2030. The only upside is that F47 likely won't in2herbs Wednesday #11

I read in another article it would be 34% cumulative as each subsequent year has a smaller $ base. nt kelly1mm Wednesday #13

The headline says "White House eyes annual 8% cut to defense budget through 2030." nt in2herbs Wednesday #14

In the article it explains it is 8% per year for 5 years. I agree the headline is not clear about that. nt kelly1mm Wednesday #21

39% cut during the stated time fram. SharonAnn Wednesday #16

This is all about paying for the trillion dollar bronxiteforever Wednesday #18

Agree Strelnikov_ Wednesday #43

As An Overall Goal, This Is One of the First of the Felon's Initiatives I Can Get Behind The Roux Comes First Wednesday #19

Weapons systems Wifes husband Thursday #52

normally I'd support cuts, but this seems just like what Putin would want? cadoman Wednesday #20

Putin would want cuts at any time. So not cutting because Putin would want that means no cuts ever. nt kelly1mm Wednesday #22

I've no idea what Poo Tin is thinking. mwooldri Wednesday #29

This message was self-deleted by its author GP6971 Wednesday #23

Elon's Iron Dome contracts will eat up 5x as much as is being proposed to be cut. NoMoreRepugs Wednesday #26

Won't work Wifes husband Thursday #53

I don't support this at all. You're kidding yourselves if you think this won't affect readiness. harumph Wednesday #27

There are 100s of posts a month here on DU talking about how bloated the defense budget is. I am not kelly1mm Wednesday #32

Nothing Trump suggests is on the level. harumph Wednesday #42

Kill all espionage elon's contracts. Bluethroughu Wednesday #28

If the GOP JBTaurus83 Wednesday #31

Exactly. Thats my thought #2 and this is the test I have been waiting for. nt kelly1mm Wednesday #33

Red states will fear closures of military bases. John1956PA Wednesday #34

Closures are long overdue as a lot of the bases were only established for recruitment and training for WWII. cstanleytech Wednesday #36

If the money was shifted over infrastructure spending I'd agree. cstanleytech Wednesday #35

I have supported cuts in the defense budget for a long time. totodeinhere Wednesday #37

I think cuts to the defense budget are a good in and of themselves. If that savings only went to kelly1mm Wednesday #38

I support this. Just wish it was double that number hueymahl Wednesday #39

It is 8% per year for 5 years. Doubling that would be a cumulative 70% cut. IMO that is too much. nt kelly1mm Thursday #50

I thought he wanted NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP Northern_Light Wednesday #40

They have a ways to go to get it to Putin's satisfaction. Turbineguy Wednesday #44

I hate bloated miltary spending DonCoquixote Thursday #46

Pentagon might like it. Xolodno Thursday #49

First stop all tank production. Old Crank Thursday #51

I'm going to take a wild stab... jmowreader Thursday #57

A reality check Deminpenn Thursday #58

It isn't a "deal" and we know how his "Fart of a Deal" goes IbogaProject Thursday #60

One-upmanship on Defense Spending is a cornerstone of the GQP maxsolomon Thursday #63

Techno fascists at it again JCMach1 Thursday #64

Definitely needs cutting alarimer Thursday #65