President Barack Obama’s military budget cuts are hurting preparedness, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel testified before the House Budget Committee Wednesday afternoon.
Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey appeared before the committee to discuss the president’s fiscal year 2014 budget. Under the "realignment" policy, the president is refocusing the military’s resources on cyber security, special operations forces, and the so-called "pivot toward Asia," Hagel said.
Hagel and Dempsey both defended the president’s budget as sufficient for the military’s needs. However, Hagel lamented the military budget’s "deep, steep, and abrupt cuts" known as "sequestration."
The president’s budget request—$527 billion for the Department of Defense’s base budget and $79 billion for overseas contingencies—does not reflect the full sequestration cuts, Dempsey said.
The budget cuts are hurting the military’s readiness right now, Hagel said. Air Force planes have been grounded and troop rotations through training centers have been heavily reduced, he testified.
Dempsey warned that if the sequester continues, the U.S. military would be put at a disadvantage.
"The means to prepare to win are more uncertain every day," Dempsey said.
The hearing comes as the National Defense Authorization Act, which funds the military’s operations, heads to the House floor for debate.
Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) and committee ranking member Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) sparred over the president’s budget and Congress’ attempt to pass a budget.
"Under this administration, our fear is that the budget is driving our strategy," Ryan said. He wondered why the president has requested less money than last year.
Van Hollen and several other Democrats called on House Republicans to form a conference committee in order to negotiate with the Senate over their different budget proposals and pass a budget.
Hagel and Dempsey also faced questions about base closures, sexual assault in the military, America’s nuclear arsenal, and the deteriorating situation in Syria. Hagel defended maintaining America’s nuclear arsenal.
"I believe strongly in a strong nuclear deterrence," Hagel said. Hagel has supported the reduction of nuclear weapons in the past, a fact that surfaced during his contentious confirmation hearings.
After testifying before the committee, Hagel and Dempsey headed to the White House for a meeting, according to Ryan.
Obama is holding meetings this week to consider various options for Syria, Reuters reported on Monday.