Stars and Stripes reports that “Navy and Marine Corps leaders warned lawmakers about the consequences of further defense cuts Wednesday, as the Navy struggles to return to a 300-ship fleet.”  

“The fiscal 2015 Navy budget proposal, which was supposed to be the topic of Wednesday’s House Armed Services Committee hearing, was largely ignored as senior military leaders and members of Congress painted a picture of looming disaster if sequestration-mandated budget cuts are allowed to go into effect in 2016 and beyond.”  

“The Defense Department is requesting $496 billion for next year, which is the maximum amount allowed under last year’s bipartisan budget deal. It is $45 billion less than what Pentagon leaders wanted last year. Over the course of the next five years, DOD is requesting $113 billion less than it hoped to receive when last year’s long-term budget plans were submitted. The Navy and Marines are requesting $38 billion less over the course of the Future Years Defense Program than they wanted last year.”