In Washington

Although the United States is at war, PRESIDENT BUSH will ask Congress for a cut of $3.7 billion in defense spending next year, officials said. The decrease would bring the defense budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 to $295.2 billion but would not include Gulf War costs, estimated to be more than $500 million a day. The current year’s defense spending, not including Gulf War costs, is estimated at $298.9 billion. The proposed 1992 defense budget is part of a five-year military reduction plan that would slash the number of U.S. troops, warships, aircraft and other weapons by the end of 1995.