On January 5, 2012, President Obama announced new defense strategic guidance entitled
“Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense.”1 This new
guidance is significant because it is explicitly intended to reshape future Department of
Defense (DOD) priorities, activities, and budget requests for the next decade. While the guidance
is intended to steer DOD decision-making as it reduces defense spending by about $487 billion
over the next 10 years, to meet the initial budget caps set in the Budget Control Act (BCA) of
2011, it does not account for the possibility of sequestration—further significant, across-the-board
cuts that could be required pursuant to implementation of the BCA. Defense officials have stated
that, were they directed to find an additional $500 billion in cuts, this guidance would not apply,
and DOD would have to shed “missions and commitments and capabilities that we believe are
necessary to protect core U.S. national security interests.”2 This CRS report highlights and
analyzes key strategic-level issues raised by the new guidance.3 The report will not be updated.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
“Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense.”1 This new
guidance is significant because it is explicitly intended to reshape future Department of
Defense (DOD) priorities, activities, and budget requests for the next decade. While the guidance
is intended to steer DOD decision-making as it reduces defense spending by about $487 billion
over the next 10 years, to meet the initial budget caps set in the Budget Control Act (BCA) of
2011, it does not account for the possibility of sequestration—further significant, across-the-board
cuts that could be required pursuant to implementation of the BCA. Defense officials have stated
that, were they directed to find an additional $500 billion in cuts, this guidance would not apply,
and DOD would have to shed “missions and commitments and capabilities that we believe are
necessary to protect core U.S. national security interests.”2 This CRS report highlights and
analyzes key strategic-level issues raised by the new guidance.3 The report will not be updated.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
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