National Security Spending
The Pentagon, looking northeast at the Potomac. DOD photo.
RECENT ANALYSIS
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Feb 4, 2010
Analysis of FY 2011 Budget Request
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, which begins on October 1, 2010, the Obama Administration has requested a base budget of $548.9 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD). This is $18 billion, or 3.4 percent, above the appropriated Fiscal Year 2010 base budget of $531 billion. In addition, the Administration has requested $159.3 billion for “Overseas Contingency Operations,” to fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This brings the Fiscal Year 2011 defense budget request to a total of $708.3 billion. -
Dec 17, 2009
Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Agreement (HR 3326)
The Conference agreement on the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill was adopted by the full House on Wednesday, December 16, roughly 24 hours after it became available for public viewing. The Senate is expected to act on the legislation this week. The bill includes $497.7 billion for the Department of Defense’s annual “base” budget, excluding funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. -
Dec 3, 2009
Pruning the Nuclear Triad? Pros and Cons of Bombers, Missiles, and Submarines
As the United States and Russia negotiate bilateral reductions in nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, attention must be paid to the composition of each country’s strategic arsenal of nuclear-armed bombers, land-based missiles, and submarine-based missiles. This fact sheet considers the arguments traditionally made about the strengths and weaknesses of each leg of the nuclear triad. - See more articles »
Iraq and Afghanistan War Costs Resources
While it is widely recognized that Cold War-era thinking about security is outdated, this recognition has not carried over into any real change in how the United States allocates its defense dollars.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
Feb 4, 2010 Analysis of FY 2011 Budget Request
FY 2010 DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS
Dec 17, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Agreement (HR 3326)
Dec 2, 2009 Putting Afghanistan Troop Increase Costs in Perspective
Oct 21, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Agreement (HR 2647)
Sep 24, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 Senate Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 3326)
Jul 28, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 House Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 3326)
Jul 13, 2009 Analysis of Senate Defense Authorization for FY 2010 (S. 1390)
Jun 24, 2009 House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647)
Jun 16, 2009 Congressional Add-Ons to Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (H.R. 2346/S. 1054)
Jun 15, 2009 Analysis of Conference Agreement on Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (H.R. 2346/S. 1054)
Jun 2, 2009 Obama Nuclear Nonproliferation Budget Disappointing
May 15, 2009 President Obama’s First Budget Shortchanges Nunn-Lugar
May 8, 2009 Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request: May "Full Request"
Apr 30, 2009 Analysis of S. 454: The Levin-McCain Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act
Apr 7, 2009 Gates Throws Down the Gauntlet on Defense Budget
Mar 31, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 Budget Resolution for National Defense
Feb 26, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Defense Spending Request: February "Topline"
POLICY PAPERS
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
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
Sep 8, 2009 Quick Facts about U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan
Feb 26, 2009 Growth in U.S. Defense Spending Over the Last Decade
Feb 26, 2009 Current U.S. Defense Spending vs. Spending Since 1948
Feb 26, 2009 U.S. Defense Spending vs. Global Defense Spending
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 2009 Request l The FY 2008 Request l The FY 2007 Request l The FY 2006 Request l The FY 2005 Request
The FY 2004 Request l The FY 2003 Request l The FY 2002 Request l The FY 2001 Request l The FY 2000 Request
The FY 1999 Request l The FY 1998 Request l The FY 1997 Request
ADDITIONAL READING
- Congressional Research Service, "Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations," updated February 25, 2009.
- Summary of the annual defense budget process
- Congressional Budget Office, "Long-Term Implications of the Fiscal Year 2009 Future Years Defense Program," January 2009.
- Institute for Policy Studies, "A Unified Security Budget for the United States, FY 2009," released September 22, 2008.
- Government Accountability Office, "Assessments of Selected Weapons Programs," March 2009.