Reflecting the Obama administration’s intent to end combat operations in Afghanistan by 2014, the proposed 2013 defense spending bill calls for a 23-percent decrease in funding to sustain overseas contingency operations compared to 2012 levels, to $88.5 billion from $115.1 billion. Most of that sum — $85.6 billion – would fund Operation Enduring Freedom combat actions; $2.9 billion would support the effort to promote the transition to peace under Operation New Dawn. The troop-strength level in Afghanistan would remain steady at 68,000.
