Brian Famplease Respond To Both Discussions 1st Discussion

Brian Famplease Respond To Both Discussions1st Dicussionthe Dep

(Brian) (FAM) PLEASE RESPOND TO BOTH DISCUSSIONS. 1st Dicussion The Department of Transportation (hereinafter, DOT) requested $89 billion for FY 2021 as part of the President’s Budget. Per the executive summary to the FY 2021 Budget Highlights package (obtained from the DOT webpage), the budget “underscores the Administration’s commitment to making transportation systems safer and improving the state of transportation infrastructure” (transportation.gov, n.d., FY 2021 Budget Highlights, Executive Summary section, para. 1). This is in line with the DOT’s mission.

I did some more research to see the status of the appropriation for this agency for 2021. Per the House Committee on Appropriations, for FY 2021, the DOT bill was for $107.2 billion in budgetary resources—about $19 billion more than the budget request (approporiations.house.gov, 2020, Bill Summary section)! Something clearly happened in committee hearings. I compared the bill versus the budget request and my key highlights were derived from that comparison (using the house appropriations site as a guide—I didn’t read the whole 268-page bill!!): $10 million for Transportation Planning Grants for the purpose of assisting areas of persistent poverty. This is a competitive grant program, and was not included in the 2021 Budget request.

An increase of $618 million above the 2021 Budget request for the FAA ($17.5 billion was the original budget request). The increase was primarily due to additional amounts appropriated for Aviation Safety (increase of $96 million) and discretionary Airport Improvement Grants (increase of $500 million). An additional $26 million, not in the 2021 Budget Request, to support the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and provide funding to strengthen the nation’s “aging infrastructure”. Grants under this funding were offered to DOT for Cyber Security Initiatives, Northeast Corridor Grants to AMTRAK, Assistance to Small Shipyards, and a number of other agencies or concerns. The source for the highlights above was appropriations.house.gov.

I would encourage everyone to bookmark this site and follow legislation regarding your chosen agency and their budget request for FY 2021. Pay close attention to the variances between the budget request and the bill, if any. You can very clearly see what the administration’s priorities are, and what is being done with your taxpayer money. I listed three highlights above (to fulfill the discussion request), but there were so many other points that shined a light on exactly what this administration is attempting to emphasize via budget action. Note: Per Congress.gov, the bill that included the proposed appropriation for the DOT passed the House 217 – 197 yeas to nays.

It was received in the Senate on August 12th. Budget action is a very powerful tool indeed. Several programs may have an impact on your daily life, and whether these programs are funded appropriately is of vital importance. References House Committee on Appropriations. (2020, July 1). Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). FY 2021 Budget Highlights.

Paper For Above instruction

The Department of Defense (DoD) Budget primarily funds the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), which plays a critical role in maintaining and advancing the nation’s cyber and information infrastructure. For Fiscal Year 2021, DISA’s total budget was set at approximately $9.4 billion, emphasizing strategic investments in cyber security, net-centric environments, and enterprise services necessary for supporting military operations and national security objectives. Within this budget, congressional appropriations accounted for about $2.2 billion, while the Defense Working Capital Fund contributed approximately $6.9 billion, reflecting the agency’s operational flexibility and revenue-generating activities (Defense Information Systems Agency, 2020).

The budget allocated $123.6 million for transitioning to a net-centric environment—an essential modernization effort to enhance connectivity, data sharing, and communication across military branches and agencies. A significant portion, $40.8 million, was designated for providing essential enterprise services to warfighters, intelligence, and business end-users via the secret internet protocol router network (DISA, 2020). This investment aims to sustain and develop a resilient, secure, and efficient communication infrastructure to support critical national security operations.

Overall, DISA’s FY 2021 budget underscores a strategic approach to strengthening cyber and information infrastructure, supporting logistics and operational readiness, and modernizing communication platforms. These investments are critical to maintaining a technological advantage over adversaries and ensuring resilient national security capabilities amid evolving global threats. The budget demonstrates a focused effort on cyber security, enterprise services, and systems innovation—all essential components in safeguarding the military’s operational effectiveness and technological edge in an increasingly digital battlefield.

References

• Defense Information Systems Agency. (2020). Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Estimates. DISA.
• DISA. (n.d.). DISA's budget.
• Department of Defense. (2020). Defense Budget Overview. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
• Congressional Research Service. (2021). The DoD Budget and Appropriations Process.
• Office of Management and Budget. (2020). Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request - Defense.
• National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. (2020). Public Law 116-283.
• U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2021). DOD Cybersecurity Modernization Efforts.
• Congress.gov. (2020). FY 2021 Defense Appropriations Bill.
• Defense News. (2021). Top priorities in the FY 2021 Defense budget.
• Bloomberg Government. (2021). Defense Spending and Budget Trends.