{"id":46047,"date":"2020-02-04T20:53:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T20:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/04\/esper-issues-talking-points-before-pentagon-budget-roll-out\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:27:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:27:41","slug":"esper-issues-talking-points-before-pentagon-budget-roll-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/federal-budget\/2020\/02\/04\/esper-issues-talking-points-before-pentagon-budget-roll-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Esper issues talking points before Pentagon budget roll-out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

All roads lead to the National Defense Strategy from here on out, Defense Secretary Mark Esper <\/a>wrote Jan. 27 in a memo to top military leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon plans to put its money where its mouth is as it announces the fiscal year 2021 budget, according to the memo, focusing funding on the kinds of programs and weapons<\/a> that will bring the U.S. up to snuff with competitors like China and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modernizing weapons, strengthening alliances and supporting service members<\/a> are among the goals for the $740 billion the White House and Pentagon will propose to Congress, which will ensure \u201cirreversible implementation of the National Defense Strategy,\u201d the memo reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the priority highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n