WASHINGTON– Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter said Tuesday that the military has taken significant steps in tightening defense spending, many prior to sequestration.
“We only deserve the amount of money we need and not the amount of money we are use to,” Carter said.
Carter said that that’s why DoD made reductions to its budget by $487 billion over 10 years. But the self proposed reduction paired with additional budgetary cuts has left the pentagon with the task of balancing strategic and budgetary necessities with fiscal uncertainty.
One area where spending can be cut, according to Carter, is military compensation.
“Everyone that looks at the defense budget realizes that military compensation like health care cost can not grow at unsustainable rates without threatening the force,” Carter said.
A 1 percent pay raise for service members in FY13 is proposed as a modest reduction in pay growth. Carter said DoD resubmitted a proposal to Congress that would not result in the reduction of military pay or benefits, but rather it would reduce its rate of growth.