Turner calls Trump defense proposal 'fake budgeting'

A Dayton congressman has called a Trump administration defense spending proposal “fake budgeting” because it doesn’t reach necessary levels to restore military readiness, according to a statement.

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton and chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, called the Trump administration reported increase in defense spending to $603 billion in the next fiscal year “fake budgeting.”

Turner contended a $640 billion defense budget top line is needed.

The Trump administration has proposed adding $54 billion to the defense budget in fiscal 2018 and cutting a similar amount of non-defense spending, including foreign aid.

That budget increase is about 3 percent more than the Obama administration defense budget proposed.

“The new administration claiming a 10 percent increase that’s really a 3 percent increase is fake budgeting,” Turner said in a statement.

“Our military readiness has suffered immensely over the past eight years due to stringent budget cuts,” the congressman said. “It is imperative we can make a real attempt to reverse dangerous trends in defense spending. I hope the administration will be able to come to the negotiating table in a meaningful way to support our armed forces and to protect our interests at home and abroad.”

Sequestration, or automatic spending reductions under the federal Budget Control Act of 2011, has reduced overall defense spending since it was enacted. Donald Trump has indicated on the campaign trail he wants to repeal the cuts and bolster the size of the military.

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Turner calls Trump defense proposal ‘fake budgeting’