Pentagon Opposes Plan to End Missile Defense System

The House is making some moves to cut defense spending in an effort to rein in the exploding budget deficit. But the Pentagon isn’t too happy about some of that effort, The Hill reports.

In particular, the Defense Department has come out against a House-approved proposal that possibly would end a missile defense system the United States is forming with Italy and Germany. The Pentagon policy bill would start by restricting money for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) and ultimately eliminate it or restructure it to create technologies for other weapons.

“We believe implementation of a proof of concept program, using the remaining funds contributed by the three nations, is the best option for all MEADS partners,” the Defense Department said in the fact sheet.