DoD Says US Fiscal Year 2016 Budget to Reverse Decline in Defense Spending

Spokeswoman to the US Deputy Secretary of Defense said that the US fiscal year budget for 2016 is to overturn the tendency of a decline in defense spending.

MOSCOW, January 30 (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — The US fiscal year (FY) budget for 2016, which is to be delivered on February 2, will overturn the tendency of a decline in defense spending, the spokeswoman to the US Deputy Secretary of Defense told Sputnik on Friday.

"I can say it [the President's Budget for fiscal year 2016] will reverse the decline in US defense spending over the past five years and also target investments in high priority areas, which we believe will have strategic effects," Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson told the news agency.

Hillson also reminded of the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Initiative (DII), announced in November 2014 by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel which aims "to identify and invest in innovative ways to sustain and advance our [US] military dominance for the 21st century."

Hagel stated that the DII will invest resources in innovation spheres while paying attention to the country's current fiscal realities.

On January 28, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work stated that the United States has made notable investments in new military technologies and capabilities.

US President Obama will send US Congress a $534 billion defense budget on Monday, which is already $35 billion over the congressionally mandated defense budget caps, according to the White House.

Over the last five years, the US military budget has been reduced from its recent peak of nearly $700 billion in 2010, according to Pentagon's data.