Tuesday, March 31, 2009

A Senate defense committee chairman says Pentagon budget will include large, painful cuts.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said Tuesday that major program cuts will not be pushed off until the 2011 budget, but will be included when Defense Secretary Robert Gates sends his spending plan to the president later this month.

The Michigan Democrat's comments confirmed what many contractors and military leaders have expected, but he offered no details on which programs may be axed. He said Pentagon officials have indicated they will not be able to submit the much-anticipated spending plan by Apr. 21, as initially hoped.