USCG's FY11 budget: Let the Congressional quesitoning begin

This week the Coast Guard shared with us its proposed budget request and its cutbacks for FY11 which made us sound like a very fiscally responsible organization as we were to request $75 million less then we did last year. Well, as expected, with the decommissioning of some of our MSST units it was only a matter of time before we saw some push back… which stated on day 1. In a piece found on HSToday that came out on Wednesday it’s noted

Members of Congress have criticized proposed reductions to the budget of the US Coast Guard in the past several days, saying the fiscal 2011 budget proposal introduced by the White House Monday could leave the Coast Guard without the necessary resources to fulfill its responsibilities.

And such naysayers are those who’s units sit inside their congressional boundaries- take for example the proposed decommissioning of MSST New York;

Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, took aim Tuesday at specific cuts proposed for the USCG Maritime Safety and Security Teams.

“As unbelievable as it sounds, the Obama Administration wants to eliminate New York City’s federal defenses against waterborne terrorist attack,” King protested in a statement.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) notes

“I am concerned that under the administration’s spending plan, the Coast Guard’s overall budget would decrease by 3.3 percent, including a 7.7 percent decrease in funding for boat safety from the 2010 level of $129 million to $119 million in 2011…”

I honestly expected there to be more push back from area Representatives with regards to some of the plans. Though I can see ADM Allen’s point of view as expressed in his All Hands eMail and how the changes will do us good I really was wondering if there was going to be any Congressional backlash from effected states… and now we see there is. Well perhaps not backlash- but more along the lines of questions.

But I guess it should be pointed out that this is the “proposed” budget from the Coast Guard (via the DHS) and it’s of course subject to change… and it’s change I’m sure we’ll see.

Related posts:

1. The Coast Guard and the FY11 Budget; making us sound fiscal stewards
2. Budget cutting Cutters and Units… what’s your scuttlebutt? [update]
3. Boo-Hoo the Coast Guard’s losing assets and funding… what would you do to fix it?
4. Proposed 1.4% military pay raise in 2011… ouch