Pentagon Proposes Plan to Gut Commissary's Budget

[nadinbrzezinski]

The Defense Department is discussing a $1 billion cut over the next three years to the commissary’s budget in a move that could lead to a widespread closure of stores, Pentagon and industry officials said.

Word of the pending cut comes two months after news that the Pentagon’s top financial advisor ordered the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to produce a plan to close most stateside commissaries should the need arise.

The commissary agency currently operates 247 stores worldwide. Under the requested closure plan, all but 24 rural stores stateside and stores located outside the continental U.S. would close.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/01/22/pentagon-proposes-plan-to-gut-commissarys-budget.html

without comment

[GP6971]

1. I read late last week that

closing commissaries has been taken off the table. I'll look for a link, but I think it was the Army Times. Instead of closing commissaries, consideration is being given to increasing the current 5% surcharge and raising prices. I recall that raising prices will require congressional action.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is from today's email

[Scuba]

3. Basically a cut to GI benefits, as opposed to defense contractors. Surprised?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Nope

[unhappycamper]

5. We need more money for more weapons.