Project On Government Oversight (POGO),
There has been a lot of speculation as to what programs the Obama administration is going to cut in its defense budget. The F-22 Raptor has a target on its back, but a concentrated lobbying campaign and a large constituency for the program in Congress are leading to reports that there will not be any significant cuts.
GAO's critical report of the Future Combat Systems–and its significant costs–are leading to discussions of cutting back on the program, including pursuing less costly and less capable versions of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program.
And the most recent news, CQ's Josh Rogin reports, is that the controversial tanker program could be delayed by five years.
Colin Clark at DoD Buzz postulates that this is a strategy to keep both the tanker and other riskier programs:
One of the oldest ploys in the budget wars is to cut a program you absolutely, positively know Congress will fund no matter what you do. You move money from that program to one you know is on shakier ground. Then, when Congress funds both programs you can protest that it's something you really don't need and is pulling money from more deserving programs. Voila! You have zee cake and eat it too!
As Clark and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz point out, the tanker remains a top priority for the Air Force.
The DEW line points to a memo from DoD's Acquisition Chief John Young that reports that the current fleet of tankers “have plenty of life” and that the program can be delayed.
But given that there's also a strong constituency for this program in Congress, and that there's seemingly a stronger strategic justification for this program than there is for the F-22, I worry that this may result in the program being procured through the kind of earmarks the Washington Post chronicled this past Sunday or a split-buy that will result in the taxpayers being ripped off.
