What Happened
Congressional Authority And Budget Decisions Shape Military Readiness
A new Congressional Research Service report highlights the complex process of building Army force structure, which is influenced by personnel ceilings, funding choices, and congressional authority. The report notes that daily management of the Army is generally delegated to the Secretary of Defense, while Congress decides what can be afforded and authorized through annual legislation. The force management process involves translating strategic security requirements into resourced, trained, and ready forces, guided by various strategies and senior leader guidance. This process was reported by Legis1.