Pentagon ponders major cuts in weapons funding

Published: Nov 05, 2005
Source: www.navytimes.com



The Pentagon, struggling to pay for a costly war in Iraq, is considering as much as $15 billion in cuts to aircraft, shipbuilding and other weapons purchases as it begins to craft a budget for next year.

Defense analysts and congressional staff say such reductions could hamper efforts to replace equipment worn out in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and outdated Cold War-era weapons systems. Any proposed cuts are likely to set up a fierce battle, as members of Congress — including majority Republicans — strive to protect programs that pour millions of dollars and thousands of jobs into their local economies.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said cutting critical programs like the F/A-22 Raptor fighter or the Joint Strike Fighter, a next-generation aircraft, could face resistance.continue..