Key military leaders have stressed that reshaping the Pentagon budget to the levels offered by the 112th congress is the best way to address the needs of modern servicemen, servicewomen and military families in addition to preparing our country for 21st century priorities. Similarly, representatives on both sides of the aisle agree that smart, strategic reductions to the Pentagon budget will reinforce our economic security while increasing our economic competitiveness across the globe.
Rebalancing Our National Security: The Benefits of Implementing a Unified Security Budget
Kingston Reif served on the Center for American Progress’ Task Force for a Unified Security Budget, contributing research on nuclear material security and non-proliferation funding to a new report.
VP Debate Prep: The Ryan Defense Budget
At tonight’s Vice-Presidential debate, all eyes will be on Paul Ryan, who is well-loved in conservative circles as a fiscal hawk — except when it comes to defense. The budget is sure to come up during the Biden-Ryan faceoff, so before tuning in, give a second read to our own Laicie Olson’s piece on Ryan’s plans for defense spending, published a few weeks ago on The Truman National Security Project’s Doctrine blog.
“Protect U.S. Defense Labs from Budget Cuts”
The Center’s Senior Science Fellow Phil Coyle published an article on October 7 in Defense News on the importance of defense laboratories to U.S. national security needs. The piece, entitled “Protect U.S. Defense Labs from Budget Cuts,” argues that lab…
Ryan’s Defense Budget Plays Partisan Politics Over Strategic Thinking
In his 2011 budget, Ryan supported Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s proposal to save $178 billion over five years in reductions and efficiencies, as well as the Obama administration’s plan for a smaller increase in spending, year over year. Ryan’s proposal closely paralleled the President’s request, but in doing so, enflamed some members of his own party. Anticipating the details of the forthcoming proposal, 29 members of the House Armed Services Committee, led by Chairman Buck McKeon, sent a letter to Speaker Boehner requesting a $7 billion increase above the President’s request.
