Mattis continues to address Pentagon budget

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recently addressed the National Defense budget shortfall, offering an improved 2018 budget plan that will be more conservative with taxpayer money.
Mattis’ three-part plan includes “improving war fighting readiness, achieving program balance by addressing shortfalls, and building a larger, more capable and more lethal joint force.”
Adjusting the 2017 budget is Mattis' top priority. To achieve this, he will seek to amend and improve “urgent war fighting readiness shortfalls across the joint force.”
In addition, if the amendment passes it could potentially cause funds to be shifted. He is encouraging Congress to choose how they spend taxpayers' dollars more wisely and efficiently.
Mattis expects the new 2018 budget to “balance the department, address programmatic shortfalls and rebuild readiness.” For this, he is requesting over $500 billion from Congress, which has yet to be approved.
For the 2018 budget plan to be considered, it has to be in the Office of Management and Budget by May 1. The amendment for the current budget is due by March 1.