{"id":136134,"date":"2018-02-14T22:34:25","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T22:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/14\/military-leaders-are-asking-congress-to-spend-some-of-this-years-money-next-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:15:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:15:21","slug":"military-leaders-are-asking-congress-to-spend-some-of-this-years-money-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/02\/14\/military-leaders-are-asking-congress-to-spend-some-of-this-years-money-next-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Military leaders are asking Congress to spend some of this year\u2019s money next year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 With nearly half of fiscal 2018 over, top military officials are seeking flexibility from Congress to spend part of a major spending boost later\u2014in fiscal 2019\u2014and some lawmakers are leaning towards yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s No. 2 Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe, seemed to favor such an arrangement when he asked several of the services\u2019 top officers for their takes at a readiness hearing Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you noted, we have a year\u2019s worth of money adds in \u201918 and five months to spend it,\u201d affirmed Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Gen. Glenn Walters. \u201cIt might help if the appropriators can give us some flexibility, so we can spend \u201918 money in \u201919 and feather in the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inhofe is not the first lawmaker to raise this point since last week\u2019s announcement of a two-year bipartisan budget deal<\/a>\u2014which lifts defense caps to $700 billion in 2018 and $716 billion in 2019. Appropriators have until the current funding patch expires March 23 to craft appropriations bills to the deal\u2019s 2018 top-lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more on President Trump\u2019s FY19 budget!<\/a><\/b>
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On Feb. 7, House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry told reporters he was meeting with House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Freylinghusen, R-N.J., and the lead defense appropriator Kay Granger, R-Texas, \u201cabout making sure no artificial limitation Congress proposes prevents the Pentagon from spending money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou still have to have accountability,\u201d said Thornberry, R-Texas. \u201cThere are different colors of money that they can spend over different periods of time. But I do think there should be some flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Wednesday\u2019s hearing, Vice Chief Of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran said that Navy leaders also want authorization from Congress to spending money in outside of where it will be appropriated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to have authorities to move funding around as we go and inform Congress as we\u2019re doing it,\u201d Moran said, adding later: \u201cThe add is so significant that we\u2019re going to have to look at transferring that money from account to account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t