The military always asks for more than they need and more than they expect. That compensates for the inevitable cuts that happen as the funding process struggles through congress.
The military knows the Art of the Deal. Problem is the Democrats and RINOs use the social programs as family and campaign funding programs.
“That compensates for the inevitable cuts that happen as the funding process struggles through congress.”
And back. When capital expenditures (the wish list) are sent up it gets clipped by every in basket it is tossed into, and then back down the line to be cut every time again.
What the public doesn’t know is that not every branch needs to be maximized. The branches are used like a jigsaw puzzle and not individual hammers. They have specific duties and are built for that capacity.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the most aircraft in the U.S. military, with over 5,000 active-duty manned and unmanned aircraft. It is the largest air force in the world, maintaining a wide range of fighters, bombers, and transport planes. And the manning and maintenance capacity is geared to that. Plus it is established to accomplish a goal staying within the budget guidelines acceptable to the public. Where does it end with the public thinking bigger is better if they don’t want to be responsible for paying for it? And let it get expensive, or even the appearance of expensive, and some opposite politician screams bloody murder to a press that enthusiastically and exuberantly makes it the biggest crime since Hitler.
wy69