What Are the 2011 and 2012 "Defense" Budget Numbers?

Based on OMB's data on the 20111 and 2012 budgets (find the data at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/32_1.pdf), see the attached table that attempts to explain what the numbers are for DOD and other security spending for 2011 and 2012.

 

The numbers being released by DOD for 2012 ($670.6 billion) are incomplete as the requested budget for the Pentagon itself, the National Defense Budget Function, and "security" spending writ large.  Hopefully, the attached table makes that understandable. (This table contains some minor revisions from one sent out earlier today.)

 

The numbers for 2011 are quite confused because of the lack of final appropriations action by Congress.  OMB has attempted to make adjustments for the "Continuing Resolution." But the actual result of the political process for 2011 remains very unclear.  Nonetheless, DOD promotes its 2012 budget request as a major reduction from 2011 based on the use of the President's request for 2011 as the starting point.  As DOD budget observers know, that is basically an imaginary number for 2011 appropriations.  All we now know for 2011 is that the right figure for DOD and other security-related spending is yet to be determined.  OMB does, however, provide the data to make the CR levels for this spending clear.  It is not now known if the ultimate appropriations will be at that level, or if higher by how much.  Hopefully, the attached table will help people sort through the fog.

_____________________________
Winslow T. Wheeler
Director
Straus Military Reform Project
Center for Defense Information
301 791-2397