According to a new Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments report, federal funding for defense, military operations, and homeland security, and related activities has risen by a total of $843 billion since September 2001 in contrast to what these areas would have received simply due to rising inflation. Of that $843 billion, some $675 billion went to defense accounts. About half the total came through emergency supplementals. CSBA estimates that operations in Iraq have received about $310 billion and in Afghanistan $85 billion.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.