Permission Denied

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee is denying a Navy move to transfer funds meant for cruiser modifications, according to an Aug. 1 letter from the committee to Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale obtained by InsideDefense.com. The committee rejected the Navy's request to transfer $120 million because the fiscal year 2013 president's budget request made those funds available by retiring some cruisers early -- a move the committee opposes. "The Navy should continue to execute the prior-years plans until the Congress acts on the fiscal year 2013 defense appropriation bill," the letter states.