Defense News reports that “widespread opposition has yet to form around any single Pentagon proposal to cut a specific weapon system, indicating most could be implemented despite lawmakers’ protestations on behalf of parochial interests.”  

“Some lawmakers and analysts were quick to dismiss the Pentagon’s 2015 budget plan as dead on arrival. After all, it called for big troop cuts, politically radioactive troop benefit cuts, left some wondering if 11 aircraft carriers are affordable, and cut entire fleets of A-10 attack aircraft and U-2 spy planes.”  

“For lawmakers, slashing the size of the force, as well as retiring aging platforms and not buying as many models of new ones, means jobs will be lost back home. Since voters hear about such plans and expect economic doldrums, it puts incumbent politicians at risk of being voted out.”  

“The conventional wisdom that emerged went something like this: not this budget, not these cuts, not in a congressional election year.”  

“But this is no normal congressional election year.”