National Security Spending
The Pentagon, looking northeast at the Potomac. DOD photo.
RECENT ANALYSIS
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Jul 30, 2010
A Detailed Analysis of the Fiscal 2010 War Supplemental
The final version of the fiscal 2010 war supplemental was approved by the House on July 27, 2010 by a vote of 308-114. The bill contains approximately $59 billion in spending for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, domestic disaster relief, Haiti, and Vietnam veterans, among other things. -
Jun 11, 2010
Debt, Deficits, & Defense: A Way Forward
House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), along with a bipartisan task force that includes Senior Policy Analyst Laicie Olson, announced the release of a new report that identifies nearly $1 Trillion in Pentagon budget savings that can be generated over the next ten years from realistic reductions in defense spending. The report was produced by the Sustainable Defense Task Force, a group convened in response to a request from Rep. Frank to explore options for reducing the defense budget’s contribution to the federal deficit without compromising the essential security of the United States. -
May 21, 2010
U.S. vs. Global Defense Spending
In 2008, the most recent year for which complete global data is available, the U.S. approved $696.3 billion in defense budget authority (fiscal 2010 dollars). This figure includes funding for the Pentagon base budget, Department of Energy-administered nuclear weapons activities, and supplemental appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan. This number is eight times more than Russia, 15 times more than Japan, 47 times more than Israel, and nearly 73 times more than Iran. - See more articles »
While it is widely recognized that Cold War-era thinking about security is outdated, this recognition has not carried over into any real change in how the United States allocates its defense dollars. There are many elements of the defense budget which consume massive budgetary resources but provide little return in terms of security.
It is time to correct the artificial divide between military and non-military forms of security spending and return to a vision of security based on more than bullets and bombs.
The new reality in the post-September 11 world is that protection from terrorist attacks and other security challenges can only be provided by broadening our vision of national security to include law enforcement, intelligence, immigration policy, border security, foreign assistance, economic development, and diplomacy. Combining these non-military tools with a robust military is the prescription for global peace and security under American leadership during the 21st century.
FY 2011 DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS
Click Here to Read our Briefing Book on the Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Spending Request
Jul 30, 2010 A Detailed Analysis of the Fiscal 2010 War Supplemental
Feb 4, 2010 Analysis of FY 2011 Budget Request
FY 2010 DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS
Click Here for FY 2010 Defense Budget Analysis Archive
POLICY PAPERS
Jun 11, 2010 Debt, Deficits, & Defense: A Way Forward
May 11, 2010 Gates Calls for Real Spending Priorities
Oct 5, 2009 Rebalancing U.S. Foreign Policy: The State Department and Congressional Fellowships
Aug 25, 2009 Congressional Fellowships and Foreign Policy: DOD vs. State
Aug 17, 2009 Policy Op-Ed: Time to Grow the Acquisition Work Force
Mar 3, 2009 Policy Journal Article: A Perfect Storm for Pentagon Reform
Nov 17, 2008 Policy Journal Article: Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
Apr 15, 2008 Backgrounder: Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
Mar 5, 2008 Problems with Using the Supplemental Budget Process to Fund Ongoing Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
WEAPONS SYSTEMS
Mar 3, 2010 Mounting Problems Plague the F-35
Jul 31, 2009 What Happened to the F-22?
Jun 24, 2009 Factsheet on the F/A-22 Raptor Fighter
Feb 27, 2009 Decision on F-22 Fighter Program Delayed
Feb 26, 2009 Three Weapons Systems to Watch in 2009: F-22 Raptor, DDG-1000 Destroyer, Future Combat Systems
Sep 10, 2008 Pentagon Halt of Air Force Tanker Competition A Huge Win for Boeing
Jul 25, 2008 Cancellation of the Navy's DDG-1000 "Zumwalt" Destroyer Program
Jun 18, 2008 GAO Review of the Air Force Tanker Contract Award to Northrop-Grumman
Jun 16, 2008 Despite Soaring Budgets, Pentagon's Weapons Acquisitions Process Falters
Sep 28, 2007 Cross Your Fingers: V-22 Ospreys Off to Iraq
Jul 20, 2007 The MRAP: A Case Study in Military Planning (and Congressional Response)
TABLES & CHARTS
May 21, 2010 U.S. vs. Global Defense Spending
Mar 11, 2010 Growth in U.S. Defense Spending Since 2001
Sep 8, 2009 Quick Facts about U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan
Feb 26, 2009 Current U.S. Defense Spending vs. Spending Since 1948
Feb 26, 2009 Selected Weapons Systems - Program Costs and FY 2009 Funding
Jul 23, 2008 Total Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding To Date
Mar 4, 2008 U.S. Arms Sales Agreements with the Middle East, 1999-2006
Mar 3, 2008 U.S. Arms Sales Agreements Worldwide, 1999-2006
Feb 25, 2008 U.S. Spending on Iraq and Afghanistan by Month, Week, Day, Hour, Minute, & Second
Feb 1, 2008 Historical Costs of Previous U.S. Wars
ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF THE PENTAGON SPENDING REQUEST
The FY 2011 Request l The FY 2010 Request l The FY 2009 Request l The FY 2008 Request l The FY 2007 Request
The FY 2006 Request l The FY 2005 Request l The FY 2004 Request l The FY 2003 Request l The FY 2002 Request
The FY 2001 Request l The FY 2000 Request l The FY 1999 Request l The FY 1998 Request l The FY 1997 Request
ADDITIONAL READING
- Congressional Research Service, "Defense: FY2010 Authorization and Appropriations," December 14, 2009.
- Summary of the annual defense budget process
- Congressional Budget Office, "Long-Term Implications of the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Budget," January 2010.
- Institute for Policy Studies, "A Unified Security Budget for the United States, FY 2010," November, 2009.
- Government Accountability Office, "Assessments of Selected Weapons Programs," March 2009.