DoD "hollowed" itself out by bad money management, and does NOT need more weapons. DoD "hollowed" itself out by poor planning for new weapons and poor maintenance and use of current weapons. DoD "hollowed" itself out by advising their civilian management to make poor choices.
DoD "hollowed" itselsf out by poor training, poor war fighting strategy and tactics.
"Trump signs $700 billion military budget into law"
By Darlene Superville December 12, 2017
"WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law a sweeping defense policy bill that authorizes a $700 billion budget for the military, including additional spending on missile defense programs to counter North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons threat.
But there’s a catch. The $700 billion budget won’t become reality until lawmakers agree to roll back a 2011 law that set strict limits on federal spending, including by the Defense Department — and they haven’t yet.
The law caps 2018 defense spending at $549 billion.
Before he signed the bill at the White House, Trump called on Congress to “finish the job” and eliminate the cap on defense spending."
The reason for the cap on budgets was that DoD cannot manage even THAT AMOUNT!
"Many Republicans favor easing the caps for defense spending only. Democrats also want increases in other government spending."
More.
"The 2018 defense bill allots about $634 billion for core Pentagon operations and nearly $66 billion for wartime missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. The funding boost pays for more troops, jet fighters, ships and other weapons needed to halt an erosion of the military’s combat readiness, according to the bill’s backers. It also grants troops a 2.4 percent pay raise, slightly higher than what the Pentagon sought.
Trump’s 2018 request sought $603 billion for basic functions and $65 billion for overseas missions."
More.
"McCain issued a written statement afterward that called on Congress and the White House to work “expeditiously” on a budget agreement that secures the increased $700 billion for the military following years of spending cuts."
