Defense Officials Highlight Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request, Stress Need for Supplemental Funding
NOTE: THIS NEWS ADVISORY WAS PREPARED AND ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Department of Defense on Thursday released its Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request, which tops out at $773 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, and includes $773.5 billion in gross discretionary funding and $69.6 billion in mandatory funding.
Speaking at a Pentagon news conference were Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer Michael J. McCord and director for structure resources assessment with the joint staff, Vice Admiral Sara A. Joyner, who gave opening remarks and answered questions on the request.
The request highlights the department's priorities in an era of top-line budgetary constraints, with McCord stating that the request reflects a "balanced approach" to investing in the department's priorities under constrained fiscal conditions.
This is the third budget fully informed by the department's strategy, and it reflects a commitment to continued investment in strategic and critical capabilities while sustaining a "ready, lethal, and combat-credible force," according to McCord.
The budget focuses on advanced fighter and mobility platforms, increases the capacity and capability of maritime forces, improves firepower, maneuver, and command and control for troops on the ground, and seeks to modernize the nuclear enterprise as an essential component of integrated deterrence.
Regarding the need for a supplemental appropriations bill for FY 2024, McCord said the department "is very interested in getting Congress to get across the finish line on the supplemental that was sent last October that still is on the table." He added that the Senate passed a good bill but that Congress needs to act as a whole on the issue.
The FY 2025 budget request can be found on the department's website at https://comptroller.defense.gov/budget/.
Pentagon Officials Highlight Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request, Stress Need for Supplemental Funding