DEFENSE BUDGET IN-FIGHT

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

D.O.D. IN-FIGHT OVER ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET

 According to Defense Environmental Alert (special issue, December
8, 1994), the Defense Department Comptroller has proposed significant cuts
in Defense environmental programs in fiscal years 1996 and 1997, even
before the President submits his budget to Congress. That is, the
Comptroller wants to reduce the proposed 1996 program submitted by the
Environmental Security office and the armed services ($5,556.7 million) by
$294.0 million to $5262.7 million. It wants to cut the already lower outyear
(1997) proposal from $5.047.2 million to $4084.7 million, a cut of $242.5
million .

 The Comptroller says that the initial requests, if submitted to
Congress, are likely to again face substantial Congressional cuts. And it
claims that DOD is wasting too much money on studies.

 The Environmental Security office, in response, points out that
DOD may be subject to fines and penalties for not requesting the funds
necessary to carry out legally required programs. It also says that a greater
share of funding is going into cleanup, as opposed to studies, than ever
before.

 Because the amount of money is significant, the dispute has been
kicked upstairs. Deputy Secretary of Defense John Deutch is expected to
decide between the two offices late in December.