Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum over the weekend, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford expressed confidence in the militaryâs ability to defend the country against potential adversaries, the Defense Department reported Saturday.
Dunford noted, however, that the lack of âsustained predictable, adequate levels of fundingâ combined with a failure to âlook carefully at those areas where we are challengedâ would likely erode such confidence in the coming years.
His remarks come as the Defense Department prepares a $700B alternative budget proposal for 2020 to meet President Trumpâs call for spending cuts across federal agencies. The revised DoD proposal is $33B lower than an earlier department draft.