Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has proposed a budget for fiscal year 2010 that slows the unprecedented growth in the Department of Defense budget seen under the Bush administration. Gates’ proposal will also bring an end to the production of the F-22 Raptor fighter plane and the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer, reduce the budget for the Missile Defense Agency, and cancel the armed vehicle component of the Future Combat systems—all weapons systems that Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities has long advocated against. If this proposed budget is adopted by Congress it will pave the way for meaningful reduction in wasteful defense spending, which is important for rebalancing our budget priorities and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
Watch John Podesta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and co-chair of the Obama transition team; long-time BLSP advisor and defense expert Lawrence Korb; and Scott Lilly, federal budgeting expert with 31 years of experience working in the U.S. Congress, as they discuss the FY2010 defense appropriation landscape.
Featuring:
John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for American Progress
Lawrence J. Korb, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Scott Lilly, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Moderated by:
Krisila Benson, Project Director, Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, Center for American Progress