Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Trumps Budget Proposal Date:   3/13/2017 12:09:32 PM

I see that Trump intends to carry out his campaign promise of cutting the size of government, forseign assistance, etc.  But I have to admit that I am a little leery of this big plus up of Defense.  I believe in a strong defense and I suspect that we have a lot of equipment needs having spent the last 10 years at war.  At the same time, I have this vision of plans for the next generation F-35, with even more bells and whistles being designed.  I would love to see what they have in mind as to how this money will be used and I hope it won't be spent on frivilous things, but on upgrading some of the equipment we already have. 

In my opinion, the Pentagon staff has as much bloating as any other agency.  Too many special assistants, Schedule C, poliitcal appointees.  Not everyone that belongs to the Senior Executive Service has that designation that goes with a particular job; that is to say you can be appointed to the Senior Executive Service without a particular job attached or you can end up as a special assistant with no particular assigned duties.  I hope the big uptick in budget, does not preclude getting rid of some the existing bloat. 

But we don't want to become another North Korea where all of the money is spent on the military to the detriment of other things that need funding too.  I hope he makes good on the infrastructure spending.  Understand that Democrats in Congress have already said they will fight and it will be interesting to see what House and Senate Republicans can stomach.