Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to ROTC cadets from Duke University, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University at Duke University in Durham, N.C., Sept. 29, 2010 DOD photo by Cherie CullenHowls Over JFCOM Just A Preview Of What Is Coming -- Washington Post
The bipartisan uproar in Congress caused by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's attempt to reduce excess Pentagon spending by eliminating the no-longer-needed Joint Forces Command in Virginia is just a preview of the battle that will occur next year when the country awakens to the drastic measures needed to bring overall federal taxes and outlays in line.
That argument was made last week at a House Budget Committee hearing called primarily to give the Virginia congressional delegation another chance to complain about Gates's plan to end the command set up nine years ago to promote jointness among the services. At that time, it had a staff of 2,000 military and civilian personnel and cost $200 million. Today, with jointness an established service reality, JFCOM has a $1 billion price tag because it has ballooned to 3,000 military and civilian personnel and 3,000 contractors.
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My Comment: A shape of things to come .... expect rivalry among the services for funding to increase when they start to realize that the spigot is now closed.