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General pumps up troops despite budget shortfalls

Jul-12-2006 » Filed Under: General Military

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MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune

The Army’s No. 2 general rolled through Fort Lewis on Tuesday to pump up the troops.

But he didn’t bring much good news for the uniformed and civilian employees who are coping with austerity measures he ordered at posts across the country. The Army is dealing with a $530 million budget shortfall for day-to-day base operations.

Gen. Richard Cody, the vice chief of staff of the Army, said the service has had to shift some of its procurement money and other funds to meet its July 1 payroll.

“You’re talking to the guy who sent the message out,” Cody acknowledged Tuesday, referring to the spending cuts he ordered in memos to Army commanders last month.

The shortfall is due to last month’s delayed passage of the $94 billion defense supplemental funding bill in Congress. Rising costs in base operations have to compete for priority against new weapons systems, personnel costs and overseas combat operations.

Cody told commanders to cut anything that’s not directly related to troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan or preparing to go there, and health, safety and quality of life at installations.

At Fort Lewis and elsewhere, managers have had to cancel travel and promotions, freeze hiring and new contract awards, stop buying office supplies and restrict the use of gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, cell phones, cable television service and other spending items.


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