Obama's austere budget calls for deeper cuts to defense

In his April 13 speech outlining plans to trim the federal deficit, President Barack Obama said the Pentagon must redouble efforts in identifying efficiencies and savings, and will work with the White House to re-evaluate military operations.

The agreement to make further cuts after a joint review could help DOD steer its own course of chopping-block action, reports Philip Ewing at DOD Buzz in a report that questioned which major military programs would face cancellation.

Curtailment of weapons programs, and likely an accompanying reduction of forces, might be inevitable, Pentagon officials have suggested.