A counterterrorism fund and the Syrian train-and-equip program are two line items getting slashed in an agreement reached Monday on Capitol Hill to fund the Pentagon under the new budget deal, according to reports.
The budget deal that recently became law provides the Pentagon with more money than if sequestration had gone back into effect, but about $5 billion less than both the president’s fiscal 2016 request and the Republican budget that passed Congress.
Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, warned on Monday that the cuts needed to stay under the new caps would be painful, even though analysts said the budget deal was overall good news for the Defense Department.
The $1 billion Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund would be cut to $750 million, according to The Hill. The program to train and equip Syrian rebels will also be reduced from $531 million to $125 million.
Lowered fuel prices account for the biggest reduction at $1.082 billion, according to The Hill’s report.
Other areas of the Pentagon facing budget reductions under the deal are headquarters staff and readiness, including a $250 million cut in Army readiness and a $193 million reduction for Army National Guard readiness.
