I'm OK with cutting $15.5 million from the military budget. Sure, it's a drop in the ocean, but any savings we can wring out of the military is a good thing.
I agree with the sentiment, but there are legitimate changes in purchasing/budgeting that could _actually_ impact the budget (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-end-of-t...). Better reporting on egregious kickbacks like this might lead to more repercussions for the Congresspeople in question, that'd be one of the best ways to trim the fat on the Pentagon budget.
When I was in the service, Stars and Stripes was so censored that to call it journalism would be an overreach. It's not 1945 anymore. Being represented in print isn't worth much these days - especially by a propaganda rag.
I feel like if it was mission critical, they would find a way to make it work. Fund a print publisher through the black-ops budget, launch some wireless satellites or something.
I also feel like they can do without, all else being equal. Not being able to read a magazine isn't the end of the world.
Cost cutting is good, but they are not going to trim $15.5 million from their budget request nor use it for the VA or something else that would benefit the troops significantly.