U.S. Senate panel lops $8.1 billion off 2011 Defense budget

The Senate Appropriations Committee lopped $8.1 billion off the 2011 Defense budget on Thursday, mainly by cutting two top-priority Air Force and Navy weapons programs, and trimming dozens of smaller programs, Federal Times reports.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, Appropriations Committee chairman, called the cuts “tough measures.” But he said, “We believe in total the package is not only fair, but presents a carefully balanced set of recommendations” that meet security needs for 2011. Inouye had previously been pushing for big spending in military projects.