Politico
Bryan Bender
04/20/2021
— Rein in the military’s “unfunded requirements lists,” a left-right coalition of advocacy groups is urging Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
NIX THE WISH LISTS: A coalition of advocacy groups from across the political spectrum called on Austin on Monday to rein in the “unfunded requirements lists” that the military branches compile each year and are widely seen as a way for Congress to pad the defense budget.
“These lists, though currently required by statute, negatively impact prioritization efforts throughout the military and make the congressional budget process unnecessarily complex and unwieldy,” the groups wrote. “While we are working with Congress to repeal the UFR requirements currently under law, we ask you to follow the example of former Secretary Robert Gates in asking the service branches to cut down on these requests.”
“...You will no doubt encounter some resistance from Congress,” they added, “but you can also count on strong support from the undersigned organizations.”
Signatories include: the National Taxpayers Union; Project On Government Oversight; American Friends Service Committee; CODEPINK; Common Defense; Council for a Livable World; FreedomWorks; National Priorities Project; Public Citizen; R Street Institute; Taxpayers for Common Sense; Taxpayers Protection Alliance; the United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society; Win Without War; and Women’s Action for New Directions.
