Press Releases
Wenstrup Comments on Pentagon's Strategy to Politicize Defense Spending
Washington,
September 7, 2016
|
Meghan Waters
(202-225-3164)
Today Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement on the newly uncovered Pentagon strategy to engage politically with Congress’ defense spending proposal. On September 6, reports surfaced about an internal Pentagon memo prepared for top Defense officials outlining a strategy to help undermine and defeat this year’s defense spending proposal, which the White House has threatened to veto unless Congress takes steps to increase domestic spending along with defense spending. Tactics discussed in this five-page memo include pitting the Senate against the House, exploiting individual Members’ hesitations about the bill and its passage, and lobbying both Members and “outside influencers” to secure the bill’s downfall. “It is unprecedented and inappropriate for Defense leadership to take on the role of lobbyist,” Wenstrup said. “The House Armed Services Committee passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan defense bill designed to meet the needs of our military. Our servicemembers deserve better than their leadership lobbying for non-defense issues. The role of our military is to provide for our defense. The Pentagon should always provide a straightforward, honest assessment of our resources and needs militarily, period.” You can read the entire memo here.
### Office of Representative Brad Wenstrup |