Military leaders: Budget caps have crippled our forces

Top brass’ plea to House panel echoes promise by Trump.

WASHINGTON — Pleading for a repeal of a law that strictly limits defense spending, a panel of four-star military officers warned lawmakers Tuesday that the fiscal constraints are crippling the military’s ability to respond to threats around the world.

Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee, the officers delivered a message that appears to grow grimmer each time it’s delivered. It echoed President Donald Trump’s promised to reinvest in a “depleted” military, although annual defense spending is more than $600 billion.

“You’ve been lacking a little equipment, we’re going to load it up. You’re going to get a lot of equipment,” Trump said during a visit Monday visit to Central Command.

The military services have delivered to Congress plans for increasing the 2017 defense budget by more than $30 billion. The informal proposals represent the first attempt by Trump’s Defense Department to halt what it contends is the erosion of the military’s combat readiness.

The shortfalls outlined may provide Trump and national security hawks in Congress with a powerful incentive to strike caps on military spending enacted as part of a 2011 budget deal with Democrats to avoid a default on government debt.

Adm. William Moran, the vice chief of naval operations, said more than half of all Navy aircraft are grounded for maintenance or lack of spare parts.

Gen. Daniel Allyn, the Army’s vice chief of staff, told the panel that only three of the Army’s more than 50 brigade combat teams have all the troops, training and equipment needed to fight at a moment’s notice.

The Marine Corps, arguing for a $4.2 billion boost to its 2017 budget, warned that the “nation’s force in readiness” will have to continue shifting money intended for weapons to pay current bills.

Stephen Wilson, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, told the committee the service’s “advantage over potential adversaries is shrinking.” Wilson said the average Air Force aircraft is 27 years old and more than half of the inventory would qualify for antique vehicle license plates in the state of Virginia.

Portions of the military’s plans for increased spending will likely be included in the formal supplemental budget the Trump administration will send to Capitol Hill.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 set limits on how much could be spent on defense through 2021 while exempting money provided for overseas warfighting operations. Between 2011 and 2014, the Pentagon’s budget fell by more than $100 billion. Across-the-board spending limits, or sequestration, were triggered in 2013, forcing reductions that led to widespread concern the military would be unprepared to fight the nation’s wars.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 provided temporary relief from the cuts, but unless the law is changed the limits would return in the 2018 budget year and force defense budgets to levels far lower than the Pentagon says are prudent.