The Bush administration requested $190 billion in war funding for fiscal year (FY) 2008. Congress approved $87 billion of this request in late 2007, leaving the remaining $103 billion to be considered in 2008. Additionally, in February 2008 the administration submitted a placeholder $70 billion request for war funding in FY 2009. Press reports indicate […]
Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
by Travis Sharp Arguing that defense spending is historically low as a percentage of GDP, and therefore must be increased, is a bit like a landlord arguing that because a tenant received a much-deserved pay raise, their rent should be increased automatically. Intelligent defense planning relies on requirements, tradeoffs, and a thorough evaluation of […]
Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Funding for Bioweapons Prevention and Defense
The Administration proposes $6.8 billion in regular funding on bioweapons prevention and defense activities in FY2009. This is an increase of approximately $340 million (5.2%) over the amount appropriated by Congress for FY2008.
Problems with Using the Supplemental Budget Process to Fund Ongoing Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
by Travis Sharp Download a PDF version of this analysis. Colleen Garcia provided research assistance for this report. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It takes more than two years for the White House to develop, and Congress to approve, a budget for each new fiscal year. Since natural disasters and other emergencies, including the deployment of U.S. military […]
The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request – Ballistic Missile Defense
by Christopher Hellman and Travis Sharp Ballistic missile defense continues to receive more funding than any other weapons system in the annual Pentagon budget. Background: As part of its Fiscal Year 2002 budget request, the Defense Department announced a major restructuring of the Ballistic Missile Defense Office (BMDO). Funding for a range of programs within BMDO […]
