MMT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 4 (June)
At this early stage of the FY 2011 budget cycle, the defense committees again appear willing to fund the leading requirements to sustain a wartime DoD. Here’s a note of concern: one account is again emerging as a candidate for special attention through the budget process to ensure it is adequately funded.
Adequate research, development, test and evaluation funding enables medical countermeasures development and other budget-intensive, longer lead-time needs of the community to be met. Once again the department’s RDT&E account is competing with other higher visibility, politically sensitive budget accounts and program lines used to provide pay, benefits and allowances, construct medical facilities and the like.
While there are higher, must-have community needs in the FY11 budget request, the defense committee members would be advised to allow medical program RDT&E budget lines to compete fairly throughout this budget process with other funding needs. Of note, the acquisition reform that appears to be gaining bipartisan support on both sides of Capitol Hill increases the demand for more upfront work and prototyping—through RDT&E funding.
As always, I look forward to receiving your comments.
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Marty Kauchak, Editor |
