President Obama's fiscal 2014 budget plans have only confirmed some of the worst fears of defense industry analysts. The Pentagon's $526.6 billion budget request does not address government-wide budget cuts that started in fiscal 2013 and only continues ongoing uncertainty. And while Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's list of changes would help shore up the Pentagon's finances, cuts to missile defense and other weapons, bases, military health coverage and other "entitlements" and the civilian and contractor workforce will open up a multifront war on Capitol Hill. In 2011, Congress passed a law putting massive across-the-board budget cuts into effect to force lawmakers to reduce the federal deficit. From that time on, budget plans have hinged on the possibility that the White House might reach an agreement with lawmakers to reduce the deficit and prevent the cuts.
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