Biden Defense Budget Too Low but Makes Good Investments, Norquist Says

June 8, 2021

The Biden Pentagon is right to focus on emerging technologies in its budget request for fiscal year 2022, former DOD Comptroller David Norquist told Politico’s Morning Defense.

“Their budget is now the largest RDT&E budget,” he said. “Why? Because that’s where we are in the process in needing to drive the changes.”

Norquist said he is pleased to see continuity with the national defense strategy released during his time in the Trump administration. But he echoed concerns from many Republican lawmakers that $715 billion – essentially the same level as it is in the current year – isn’t enough.

“They have a topline that doesn’t keep pace with inflation, and that creates a set of challenges,” Norquist said. “Most of their problems come from that.”

DOD photo by Lisa Ferdinando

June 8, 2021

Recent News

Snap of the Week

Snap of the Week

Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

More than 74,000 residents of Whidbey Island, Washington could suffer long-term health impacts from the noise of jets stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, according to a University of Washington study, The Seattle Times reported. Researchers said the impact...

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

A new $2 billion aid package the State Department announced Thursday will help build a Ukraine Defense Enterprise Program, according to Defense News. The fund will help Ukraine buy weapons from other countries while “investing in Ukraine’s defense industrial base,...

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

The House Armed Services Committee’s draft National Defense Authorization Act indicates lawmakers may not be ready to privatize more barracks, as Military.com reported. “Members aren’t completely bought into privatizing all housing,” a senior Republican committee aide...

PAST STORIES