Office of Management and Budget

U.S. Department of Defense


www.dod.gov
Budget website:  www.budget.mil

  • 2010 Budget:  $533.8 billion  
  • Enacted 2009:  $513.3 billion

The 2010 budget for the Department of Defense (DOD) requests $533.8 billion, or an increase of four percent from the 2009 enacted level of $513.3 billion.  This funding increase allows DOD to address its highest priorities.  The budget meets the President’s commitment to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps, improves medical treatment for wounded servicemembers, and confronts mental health needs.  The President’s plan provides $75.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for 2009, as well as $130 billion from the 2010 budget, to support ongoing overseas contingency operations, while increasing efforts in Afghanistan and drawing down troops from Iraq responsibly.

The budget increases pay 2.9 percent for men and women in uniform, an amount that will improve their purchasing power, and phases in concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation to all retirees receiving disability retired pay.  Beginning in 2010, DOD disability retirees will receive both their full DOD retired pay and their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation.  The benefit will be phased in by the VA disability level.  In 2010, retirees with 90 percent or greater VA disability ratings will receive the full value of both benefits.  In each succeeding year, the benefit will be extended to more retirees, with full implementation by 2014. 

STRENGTHENS THE ARMY AND MARINE CORPS

  • Increases the size of the Army and Marine Corps.  The Army and Marine Corps will complete their planned end-strength growth ahead of schedule this year.  The 2010 budget includes approximately $2.3 billion to cover the costs of those servicemembers who were brought on ahead of schedule and were previously covered by supplemental funds.  Maintaining these levels will enable the military to meet current deployment demands, better train for future conflicts and reduce stress on servicemembers and their families.

CARES FOR OUR SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS

  • Cares for Wounded, Ill, and Injured Servicemembers (WII).  The Department will continue its efforts to improve the medical care and housing for WII.  DOD will complete additional Army wounded warrior complexes at posts throughout the continental United States, as well as sites in Alaska, Hawaii, and Germany.  DOD and VA will expand pilot programs to expedite processing of injured troops through the Disability Evaluation System.  The expedited system substantially reduces the time required to determine disability rating and, more importantly, to alleviate frustration caused by a needlessly complex process.
  • Addresses mental health issues.  The Administration supports the implementation of a comprehensive traumatic brain injury registry, including a single point of responsibility to track incidents and recovery, and expands the number of integrated mental health professionals with deployed units to better channel medical attention to those who need help quickly.

SECURITY CHALLENGES

  • Increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and responsibly reduce the number of combat troops in Iraq.  The Administration supports an increase of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and a responsible reduction of combat troops in Iraq -- with the overall pace of military operations remaining relatively high for the rest of 2009, followed in 2010 by a reduction in deployed U.S. military forces in Iraq. 

ACQUISITION PROCESSES AND FACILITIES

  • Reforms acquisition.  The Budget sets realistic requirements and incorporates "best practices" by not allowing programs to proceed from one stage of the acquisition cycle to the next until they have achieved the maturity to clearly lower the risk of cost growth and schedule slippage.
  • Improves facilities.  The Budget commits to improving the quality of life for American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines by sustaining and modernizing barracks and dormitories housing service members around the world and by working to eliminate all inadequate housing for military families.  The Military Construction program fully funds the facilities needs of our men and women in uniform.  The 2010 budget includes significant investments in troop housing and operations facilities in order to meet the growth in personnel end strength.  Also, additional maintenance and storage facilities are being constructed to house weapons systems coming online in the near future.