Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey held a press briefing. Secretary Panetta began by calling on Congress to abide by the Budget Control Act of 2011 rather than passing the House Republican budget reconciliation bill. He warned that if Congress reverses the “tough decisions” the Defense Department has already made in its proposed budget, they risk potential gridlock and “could force the kind of trade-offs that could jeopardize our national defense.” Other topics included President Obama’s announced support of same-sex marriage, and the nomination of General Mark Welsh to replace retiring Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz.