Security Spending Analysis Archive
Cancellation of the Navy's DDG-1000 "Zumwalt" Destroyer Program
On July 22, news broke that the Navy had decided to terminate its DDG-1000 destroyer program. Formerly known as "DD(X)," the vessel is intended to perform a land-attack/fire-support mission for the Navy. According to the Department of Defense, the total value of the program is roughly $29 billion.
Total Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding To Date
A summary of Iraq and Afghanistan war funding to date.
Saxton’s Ill-Advised Proposal to Tie Defense Spending to GDP
U.S. defense spending has increased markedly under the Bush administration and is now at its highest level, in inflation-adjusted terms, since World War II. Tying defense spending to GDP basically amounts to using overall wealth creation to justify ever-increasing defense budgets. If the American economy triples in size, should our grandchildren spend three times more on defense than we do today just because they are three times richer?
These Generals Are Real Heroes
This spring, the New York Times exposed a six-year-long Bush administration propaganda campaign using retired military officers to disseminate pro-Iraq war messages to the American public. In this op-ed published in the Asheville Citizen-Times on June 27, Outreach Coordinator Ashley Hoffman explains how the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is fighting back against the administration's spin through its own Military Outreach Program.
GAO Review of the Air Force Tanker Contract Award to Northrop-Grumman
On June 18, the Government Accountability Office agreed with a protest by Boeing which argued that the Air Force made errors when it awarded a $40 billion contract to Northrop-Grumman earlier this year for the production of the new KC-45 airborne tanker aircraft. In this new fact sheet, Military Policy Fellow Christopher Hellman explains the basics of the tanker contract and GAO's review process.
Despite Soaring Budgets, Pentagon's Weapons Acquisitions Process Falters
The past decade has seen incredible growth in the amount of money spent by the United States on its national defense. But DOD can only recover from the past and present, while preparing for the future, if it fixes the acquisitions process and starts giving American taxpayers the return-on-investment they deserve. Steps must be taken right away to ameliorate the crisis in weapons acquisitions.
Analysis of Senate Armed Services Committee Action on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S 3001)
The Senate Armed Services Committee released its markup of S. 3001, the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Authorization bill, on May 1, 2008. S. 3001, as reported to the full Senate by the Armed Services Committee, fully funds the administration's $612.5 billion FY2009 National Defense request. As part of this total, the Committee authorized $70 billion in additional funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Analysis of Senate May 2008 Iraq-Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding for DOD
If the new $165.4 billion Iraq war funding supplemental is enacted into law, Congress will have approved approximately $864 billion in DOD, State/USAID, and VA funding for the Global War on Terror (GWOT) since 2001. This would cement Iraq and Afghanistan's place as the second costliest conflict in U.S. history.
Analysis of House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 5658)
The House Armed Services Committee completed its markup of the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Authorization bill (HR 5658) on May 15, 2008. The marked up bill recommends an overall authorization level of $601.4 billion, the amount requested by the administration.
Analysis of House May 2008 Iraq-Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding Package
If the new $168.4 billion Iraq war funding supplemental is enacted into law, Congress will have approved approximately $864 billion in DOD, State/USAID, and VA funding for the Global War on Terror (GWOT) since 2001. This would cement Iraq and Afghanistan's place as the second costliest conflict in U.S. history.
Center Applauds Request from Nine Senators to Cut Nuclear Reprocessing Funding
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation commended nine senators who urged funding cuts last week to the Department of Energy's efforts to both resume nuclear spent fuel reprocessing in the United States and to reuse nuclear weapons-usable material in domestic and foreign power reactors pursuant to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.
An Exercise in Futility: State Department 'Democracy Promotion' Funding for Iran
The State Department says the purpose of its so-called "democracy promotion" fund in Iran is to support programs that assist those inside Iran who desire basic civil liberties. On the surface this seems like a noble goal. However, the program is universally rejected by its intended recipients in Iran because it has undermined their work for democracy and reform.
Iraq War Senate Appropriations Hearing: Nussle's Nonsense Distorts the Record
On April 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on Iraq war funding with Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle. Senators had every right to be upset: Nussle's testimony was riddled with misleading half-truths and outright inaccuracies.
Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
Intelligent defense planning relies on requirements, tradeoffs, and a thorough evaluation of risk – not GDP – to determine need. Defense spending should remain subject to budgetary survival of the fittest.
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.
Star Wars Turns 25 Years Old, but Effective and Capable Missile Defense Still Elusive
In this new analysis, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA, ret.) and John Isaacs explain how 25 years and $120 billion dollars after President Ronald Reagan unveiled "Star Wars," U.S. national missile defense is still not effective or capable.
Downing a Sick Satellite, or Upping the Arms Race?
Did the United States use a failed satellite as cover for target practice to develop high-tech space weapons? Maybe Star Wars isn't just for the big screen after all.
Problems with Using the Supplemental Budget Process to Fund Ongoing Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
Six and a half years after the United States initiated the so-called "Global War on Terror" (GWOT) by invading Afghanistan, the continued use of emergency supplemental budgeting to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is undermining America's ability to plan responsibly for present and future threats.
U.S. Arms Sales Agreements with the Middle East, 1999-2006
The United States is far and away the leader in arms sales agreements with the Middle East. This analysis shows why.
U.S. Arms Sales Agreements Worldwide, 1999-2006
The United States is far and away the leader in worldwide arms sales agreements. This analysis shows why.
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