Editing XM2001 Crusader (section)

== Cancellation ==
In October 1999, Army Chief of Staff [[Eric Shinseki]] outlined a future that envisioned transforming heavy brigades into lighter brigades outfitted with wheeled [[Interim Armored Vehicle]]s, later renamed "Stryker." Shinseki said the priority of a lighter, more mobile army could shift resources from heavier armored vehicle acquisitions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |title=Army is Restructuringwith Brigades for Rapid Response |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/13/us/army-is-restructuring-with-brigades-for-rapid-response.html |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=13 October 1999}}</ref> The following month Shinseki said the vehicles were too heavy: the howitzer and its resupply vehicle would weigh a combined 110 tons, more than could be carried by any of the Air Force's aircraft, including the [[C-5 Galaxy]] if flight rules aren't waived. Shinseki spoke with contractor [[United Defense]] about bringing down the combined weight of the two vehicles by 20 tons, which United agreed was possible.<ref name="110 tons">{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Bradley |title=Army's Big Gun Must Lose Some Weight |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/11/25/armys-big-gun-must-lose-some-weight/5fa79780-a57b-459e-904a-22ef469fcc54/ |access-date=6 August 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=25 November 1999}}</ref>

In April 2001, a panel convened by Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] recommended canceling the Crusader and other defense modernization programs. An official involved called the Crusader "a wonderful system -- for a legacy world."<ref name="Rumsfeld panel">{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |title=Pentagon panel recommends scuttling howitzer system |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/us/pentagon-panel-urges-scuttling-howitzer-system.html |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=23 April 2002}}</ref>

As of 2002, the Army planned to acquire 480 Crusaders at a program cost of $11 billion.<ref name="Rumsfeld meeting">{{cite news |author1=Thom Shanker |author2=James Dao |title=Defense Secretary Wants Cuts in Weapons Systems to Pay for New Technologies |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/16/us/defense-secretary-wants-cuts-in-weapons-systems-to-pay-for-new-technologies.html |access-date=6 August 2018 |date=16 April 2002}}</ref>

In February 2002, President [[George W. Bush]] allocated $475 million for the Crusader program in the White House's 2003 budget proposal, which also proposed increased [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] spending by $48 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dao |first1=James |title=A Nation Challenged: the Military Budget; Bush Sees Big Rise in Military Budget for Next 5 Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/02/us/nation-challenged-military-budget-bush-sees-big-rise-military-budget-for-next-5.html |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=2 February 2002}}</ref>

In April, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, whose concerns about defense modernization overspending had intensified, met with Pentagon officials including Army Secretary [[Thomas E. White]] to discuss defense spending cuts to free funding for more essential modernization programs. The officials discussed cuts to the Crusader, [[RAH-66 Comanche]] helicopter, and [[F-22 Raptor]]. Some officials questioned whether the howitzer was redundant given the parallel development of a lighter howitzer for the [[Future Combat Systems]] modernization effort.<ref name="Rumsfeld meeting"/>

On 9 May, Rumsfeld announced that he would ask Congress to cancel the $11 billion program. Days before, Congress members favorable to the Crusader received talking points from Army officials who sought to save the program. The last-minute lobbying prompted anger from Rumsfeld and an internal Army investigation into its congressional liaison office.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shanker |first=Thom |title= National Briefing {{!}} Washington: Army Investigates Lobbying Effort |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/03/us/national-briefing-washington-army-investigates-lobbying-effort.html |access-date=5 August 2018 |work= The New York Times |date=3 May 2002}}</ref> The investigation culminated with the resignation of the Army official who had distributed the talking points.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dao |first1=James |title=Army Liaison Who Lobbied Congress For Weapon Resigns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/11/us/army-liaison-who-lobbied-congress-for-weapon-resigns.html |access-date=14 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=10 May 2002}}</ref> After being absolved himself of wrongdoing in the matter, Army Secretary White assured that he supported Rumsfeld's decision and said the Army was analyzing alternatives to the Crusader including the [[M982 Excalibur]] 155 mm guided artillery shell.<ref name="White exculpated">{{cite news |last1=Dao |first1=James |title=Rumsfeld Sets Up Showdown Over Weapon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/09/us/rumsfeld-sets-up-showdown-over-weapon.html |access-date=5 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=9 May 2002}}</ref> The House Appropriations Committee responded, after rejecting a measure that would have sustained the program until the fall, asking the Pentagon to delay plans to cancel the Crusader.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dao |first1=James |title=A Lift for a Weapons System |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/16/us/a-lift-for-a-weapons-system.html |access-date=5 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=16 May 2002}}</ref> Later that month President Bush asked Congress to reallocate the Crusader's budget towards other Army developmental weapons including $310 million for [[Future Combat Systems]] in the proposed 2003 Pentagon budget.<ref name="Bush orders halt">{{cite news |last1=Shanker |first1=Thom |title=President Formally Seeks Halt to Crusader Artillery Program |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/30/us/president-formally-seeks-halt-to-crusader-artillery-program.html |access-date=5 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=30 May 2002}}</ref>