Recent Press Releases

Washington, DC —  Senator John Thune has signed a letter with Senate colleagues to encourage Senate Armed Services Chairman Senator John Warner (R-VA) to increase top-line funding for the Department of Defense. U.S. Senators Jim Talent (R-MO), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Trent Lott (R-MS), Olympia Snow (R-ME), James Inhofe (R-OK), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also signed the letter sent to address the Administration proposal that would reduce defense spending by $3.7 billion.

"Reducing defense spending while we are engaged in the war on terror is the wrong message to be sending our men and women in uniform," said Thune. "Cutting defense spending in an environment where the military must repair and sustain our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan while implementing modernization plans is unrealistic. These cuts could endanger programs to critical our nation's defense. It is vital that we not balance the budget on the backs of our armed service members."

The letter requests that the Department of Defense's budget top-line be increased to at least $443 billion, it currently stands at $439.3 billion. The letter also requests that the Senate Armed Services Committee determine through hearings this spring and summer whether future-years funding levels are sufficient and, if not, consider adopting a funding rule that would, beginning Fiscal Year 2008, allocate a greater percentage of the Gross Domestic Product toward national defense.