Gates, Mullen Stand Ground Before Lawmakers
Michael Bruno michael_bruno@aviationweek.com
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared on Capitol Hill May 13 for the first time since the Obama administration unveiled its full fiscal 2010 budget request, and Republican lawmakers wasted no time in expressing their concerns.
But Gates and Mullen, testifying in front of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), did not give ground in their defense of the budget request, which has been criticized by some observers -- primarily conservatives although some liberal lawmakers as well -- for allegedly sacrificing support of major weapons systems for the demands of fighting ongoing counter-insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Some of what you proposed in April was appropriate. In particular, efforts to make the entire Department focus on -- and contribute to -- the wars we are in today is worthy of praise," said Rep. John McHugh (N.Y.), the HASC's ranking Republican,.
"Yet, Mr. Secretary, it is the tradeoffs that come along with your April 6th announcement that give me some concern," he continued. "The programmatic and funding decisions in the budget, according to your prepared remarks at the press conference, were 'the product of a holistic assessment of capabilities, requirements, risks and needs for the purpose of shifting the department in a different direction.' While it's undeniable that you're taking the department in a 'different direction,' the problem, Mr. Secretary, is that the Congress has not had the benefit of reviewing the analysis and data to determine how your decisions will take the Department in the right direction."
Gates asserted President Barack Obama's almost $634 billion total request for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 was indeed "adequate," and he claimed he would vigorously fight any back-sliding by Washington in defense spending, as has happened historically after foreign wars wound down. But he said DOD's job is to fight and win wars, not just prepare for them, and he made no apologies for asserting authority over military leaders.
Gates said many program cancellations, changes or deferments announced since April 6 were a "no-brainer," as they just could not make cost and schedule expectations. Variously pressed by McHugh and Rep. Randy Forbes (Va.), top GOP lawmaker on the readiness subcommittee, over his supporting analysis, the defense secretary pointed to years of Pentagon reviews and outside acquisition reform reports.
"The Department of Defense is drowning in analysis," Gates said. "The problem in the DOD is not a lack of analysis but a lack of will to make tough decisions and tough calls."
Moreover, the Pentagon leaks like a "sieve," Gates told McHugh at one point. The only reason that lawmakers had insight and influence over previous, supposedly internal DOD budget deliberations was because every office in Arlington, Va., had a proverbial "hotline" to Capitol Hill.
Mullen said he does not just support the budget request, he also supports the unique top-down manner in which Gates drove the budget-making. The end product "does not" tilt too far from conventional capabilities, the top uniformed officer said.
Gates said sustainability, from the country's overall spending on defense to individual Pentagon programs, drove this budget's creation. Then came balance, between ongoing wars to those envisioned against nation-states, and finally, a need to incorporate lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Regarding specific programs, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (Md.), the top Republican on the airland subcommittee, queried Gates over cuts and changes to the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft. The budget request cuts the joint program and moves it under the Air Force, which had been lukewarm to it, instead of the Army, which has long wanted it, especially for the domestic National Guard.
Gates said flatly that the USAF approach as to how it support the Army "has to change," but that USAF leadership -- which he restructured -- is addressing the issue. Meanwhile, the C-27J can use "exactly 1 percent" more runways than can the C-130 fleet, and there are more than 200 of the latter aircraft inside the United States and available. Finally, the JCA's previous program size was planned mostly for recapitalizing old C-23 Sherpa numbers, he explained.
On the VH-71 presidential replacement helicopter effort, which he has stopped, Gates said the president does need a new helicopter, "but one that is managed a lot more carefully."
Photo credit: U.S. Defense Dept.
