Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell nonchalantly responded to President Obama’s plan to slash the Pentagon’s budget over the next five years, insisting Thursday he’s prepared for deep cuts to the state’s large military presence.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced plans to shrink all four military branches by nearly $250 billion over the next five years as part of debt reduction deal struck last fall. Military personnel will be cut, the naval fleet will get smaller and bases will close.
That could have massive impact on the commonwealth. Several Fortune 500 defense contractors call Northern Virginia home as does the Pentagon. Military facilities are sprinkled across the state. And shipbuilding remains vital to the Hampton Roads-Newport News area.
But McDonnell said the news was “not entirely unexpected,” and that the state has begun preparing for a cutback. Last year, McDonnell launched the Virginia Commission on Military and National Security Facilities to help monitor the military funding situation.
“The commonwealth is fully engaged and ready to tackle these potential challenges to our military installations,” McDonnell said. “Virginia supports the Department of Defense’s efforts to seek needed efficiencies to the benefit of our fighting forces.”
