Obama plans first defense budget cuts since 2001

BEIJING - The Pentagon is planning its first defense budget cutbacks since the attacks of Sept 11, 2001, according to a proposed defense budget of $613.9 billion for fiscal year 2013 sent to Congress on Monday by US President Barack Obama.

The total is nearly $32 billion less than this year's budget, and the cuts reflect the impact of the country's economic downturn, experts said.

According to the Pentagon, the proposed spending program includes $525.4 billion to fund base defense programs and $88.5 billion to support overseas contingency operations, primarily in Afghanistan.