Rebuilding the U.S. Armed Forces

Impact dates

1. Mar 28, 2017

   Plan of action to achieve readiness levels before FY 2019

2. Feb 26, 2017

   30-day Readiness Review completion and report submission

Key directives

• Secretary of Defense shall conduct 30-day Readiness Review assessing training, equipment maintenance, munitions, modernization, and infrastructure
• Secretary shall submit report identifying current fiscal year actions to improve readiness
• Secretary and OMB Director shall develop FY 2017 budget amendment for military readiness with proposed reallocations
• Secretary and OMB Director shall develop FY 2018 DOD budget request levels for readiness improvement
• Secretary shall submit plan of action within 60 days to achieve readiness levels before FY 2019
• Secretary shall produce National Defense Strategy upon transmission of new National Security Strategy to Congress
• Secretary shall initiate new Nuclear Posture Review
• Secretary shall initiate new Ballistic Missile Defense Review

Who is ordered

• Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense
• Director of the Office of Management and Budget · Office of Management and Budget

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Budget amendment requires OMB concurrence, creating potential tension between defense priorities and fiscal constraints
• Readiness improvements before FY 2019 may require reprogramming or supplemental appropriations not yet secured
• New Nuclear Posture and Ballistic Missile Defense Reviews signal potential departure from Obama-era nuclear policy
• Dependent on 'availability of appropriations' per Section 4(b), limiting enforceability without congressional action