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Agency to Appeal $50M in Missile Defense Cuts
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is asking lawmakers to reinstate $50 million in fiscal 2008 funding cut from the Airborne Laser program, Inside Missile Defense reported yesterday (see GSN, July 31). U.S. President George W. Bush included $548.7 million for the program in his defense budget request, but the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill on July 25 setting aside $498 million for the program. The committee reported that it slashed $35 million to account for “program efficiencies identified by the [Missile Defense Agency],” and $15 million because of “excessive program support.” The Missile Defense Agency has argued that funding cuts “will significantly increase risk” and could affect a planned 2009 targeting demonstration of the aircraft-mounted laser intended to destroy enemy missiles. The Missile Defense Agency said in a statement that it “is in discussions with the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee about the contents and concerns expressed in the committee’s report and is preparing to appeal the funding reductions that were recommended by the [defense subcommittee], including those attributed to ‘program efficiencies’ and ‘excessive program support”” (Thomas Duffy, Inside Missile Defense, Aug. 15).
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