Prez losing grip on DOD budget?

President Barack Obama may be losing some control over Defense Department budgeting that he had clawed away from military commanders. Service chiefs and Congress are conspiring to undo those sequestration spending decisions. The result is an omnibus spending package – yet to be approved - for the remainder of FY-2015 that includes money to buy lots of weapons the Pentagon didn’t request, but wants now. It amounts to more than $3 billion more in procurement funding above the Pentagon’s requests - and packed with holiday goodies for top defense contractors like aerospace giants Boeing (15 unrequested EA-18G Growlers) and Lockheed Martin (two extra F-35As). (Source: Politico, 12/10/14) Gulf Shipbuilding Note: Other items on the unfunded lists that got a boost are: The Navy’s Joint High Speed Vessel built at Austal USA shipyards in Mobile, Ala.; and a 12th LPD-17 amphibious ship to be built at HII’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.)