Arlington, VA – Today members of the joint House and Senate conference committees will meet to negotiate a final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This meeting will start the official conference process to discuss the two versions of the legislation H.R. 2810 (115).
Earlier this year, Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) released their NDAA recommendations for FY2018, which included a mandate that the Department of Defense become audit-ready, an authorization of a new BRAC round, and continued streamlining of the DOD acquisition process.
CVA Policy Director Dan Caldwell issued the following statement:
“Increasing efficiency, streamlining operations, and eliminating waste within the Pentagon are essential steps to improving our national security. Multiple defense secretaries have argued that a budget crisis represents the greatest threat to our state military readiness. As Congress meets today to negotiate a final version of the NDAA, we urge them to strengthen our military by eliminating waste and improving efficiency at the Pentagon.”
CVA argues that the U.S. government will be unable to combat legitimate security threats as they emerge if the growing debt crisis is not addressed, and defense spending is a major structural driver of that debt. Defense secretaries including Chuck Hagel, Robert Gates, Leon Panetta, and even the most recently appointed General Mattis view the debt as a security threat. Former Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen stated this will negatively impact America’s ability to take the lead on global threats.
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