The USA’s FY 2010 Defense Budget

The US Department of Defense has submitted its FY 2010 budget request for $533.8 billion. This is 4% more than the FY 2009 base budget, but that is no longer an apples-to-apples comparison, as explained below. Weapons procurement represents $107.4 billion, or about 20% of the total budget. That put it in 3rd place, behind Operations & Maintenance ($185.7 billion), and personnel costs ($136 billion). DID offers its readers a collection of links to useful reports and original documents related to the FY 2010 budget request, as well as some relevant outside reactions and testimony. So far, the President’s budget request generally matches Secretary Gates’ April 2009 preview. We will continue to add to this collection over time, and welcome reader suggestions re: useful materials, articles, and analyses via tips@… * The American Budget Process * Readings and Sources The American Budget Process This proposed budget is just the first step in a long process that involves separate bills drawn up in the House of Representatives and the US Senate. Those bills can add things, subtract or change other items, and even impose conditions on certain expenditures. The House and Senate bills are based on a common Presidential budget proposal, […]