Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Deficit Reduction Proposals: Defense Discretionary Spending

by Laicie Olson [contact information]

Download the PDF here.

The following graph details nine major deficit reduction proposals by program recommendation. For a larger view, download the PDF.

Frank/Paul Sustainable Defense Task Force: The Sustainable Defense Task Force was formed in response to a request from Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), working in cooperation with Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Representative Ron Paul (R-TX), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), to explore possible defense budget contributions to deficit reduction efforts that would not compromise the essential security of the United States. The plan can be found here.

Bowles-Simpson: President Obama created the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to identify policies that would improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and achieve long-term fiscal sustainability. The group’s co-chairs, former GOP Senator Alan Simpson and Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, released their proposal on November 10, 2010, along with a list of $200 billion in illustrative savings for domestic and defense discretionary spending. The commission’s final proposal changed only marginally for defense discretionary spending. Most notably, the proposal altered the application of cuts from “defense” to “security,” including the International Affairs, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security budgets, as well as the Department of Defense. See both plans here.

Domenici-Rivlin: The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force, led by former Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) and former Clinton White House Budget Director Alice Rivlin, released their plan on November 17, 2010. The proposal, “Restoring America’s Future,” freezes domestic and defense discretionary spending for five years before capping both at GDP levels, and calls for the Office of Management and Budget to impose, by law, across-the-board cuts to all programs if spending exceeds the caps. Emergency spending would be exempt. Download the plan here (PDF).

Coburn: On May 27, 2010, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, submitted a letter describing, “serious problems in our defense budget and some ideas to address them” to the Commission. Coburn’s proposal would institute a “hard” freeze (no allowance for inflation) at the 2010 level for the entire 2011-2020 period, unless and until DOD passes a comprehensive, independent audit of all major acquisition programs, components, and contractors. The letter was published in Defense Industry Daily and can be found here.

Schakowsky: On November 16, 2010, Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, offered “a comprehensive proposal to reduce the federal deficit without making middle class Americans foot the bill.” The plan came in response to the Bowles-Simpson proposal, released only days before. It can be found here.

Stern: In another response to the Bowles-Simpson proposal, former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President and member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Andy Stern, released his report on December 2, 2010. The proposal, entitled “The 21st Century Plan for America’s Leadership,” would adopt the recommendations of the Frank/Paul Sustainable Defense Task Force, but implement Coburn’s “hard” freeze and audit requirement beginning in 2015. Download the plan here (PDF).

Gates: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced a “comprehensive effort to increase efficiencies, reduce overhead costs, and eliminate redundant functions” in early 2010. The plan includes four tracks focused on reprioritizing DoD resources, including a 23-point efficiencies initiative, released in September by Secretary Gates and Undersecretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and an initial set of decisions on which the department could take immediate action, announced by Secretary Gates on August 9. See the plan here.

Citizens’ Commission: The Citizens’ Commission On Jobs, Deficits And America’s Economic Future put forth their report on November 30, 2010. The proposal adopts the recommendations of the Frank/Paul Sustainable Defense Task force for defense discretionary spending. It can be found here.

Demos, Economic Policy Institute, and the Century Fund: Demos, EPI and The Century Foundation released their plan, “Investing in America’s Economy: A Budget Blueprint for Economic Recovery and Fiscal Responsibility,” on November 29, 2010. The plan adopts the recommendations of the Frank/Paul Sustainable Defense Task force for defense discretionary spending and can be found here.