US President Donald J. Trump is seeking another $30bn in the defence budget for fiscal 2017 to enhance combat readiness in the fight against ISIS.
If approved, the budget amendment provides $24.9bn in base funds to improve warfighting readiness and help rebuild the armed forces.
In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump wrote: “The request seeks to address critical budget shortfalls in personnel, training, maintenance, equipment, munitions, modernisation and infrastructure investment.
“It represents a critical first step in investing in a larger, more ready and more capable military force.”
In addition, the Department of Defense will receive $5.1bn in overseas contingency operations funds to accelerate the campaign to defeat ISIS and support Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.
Undersecretary of Defense-Comptroller John P. Roth said: “Our request to Congress is that they pass a full-year defence appropriations bill.”
Roth noted: “We are now approaching the end of our sixth month under a continuing resolution,” and added: “one of the longest periods that we have ever been under a continuing resolution.”
Most of the money in the fiscal 2017 request would be used for additional facilities, maintenance, spare parts, training events, peacetime flights, ship operations and munitions.
The additional budget would increase the 2011 Budget Control Act funding cap for defence.
Image: USAF Tech. Sergeant Jeffery Self advances toward opposing forces during a training scenario at Kunsan Air Base. Photo: courtesy of Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Andrejcik.
