January 15, 2021
How the Defense Budget Could Actually Increase (Slightly)
Conventional wisdom is that defense spending will be cut or remain flat under the next administration. There is certainly reason to think it might. The president’s Fiscal Year 2021 request indicates a flat budget over the next five years and the Democratic platform advocates a reduction in defense spending. It is a safe bet that President-elect Joe Biden’s budget request will reduce or maintain the defense budget. Once all is said and done, though, it is more likely that defense spending will end up growing rather than shrinking. However, there remain several potential political complications that could prevent the Pentagon from benefitting.
Once all is said and done, it is more likely that defense spending will end up growing rather than shrinking.
Reaching a bipartisan budget deal for FY2022 (along with passing all corresponding appropriations bills) will be a tumultuous and slow process whose conclusion is by no means certain. Should a budget deal be reached, it will likely include an increase, if only slight, to defense spending.
Read the full article from War on the Rocks.
More from CNAS
-
Countering the Swarm
After decades of air dominance and a near monopoly on precision strike, the United States now faces a dramatically different, more hostile world as the proliferation of cheap ...
By Stacie Pettyjohn & Molly Campbell
-
Defense / Transatlantic Security
Europe’s Delusions Over What It Means to Deter RussiaToday’s European leaders are in a Singapore trap, crafting a training mission designed to signal resolve rather than achieve an actual military objective....
By Franz-Stefan Gady
-
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Anderson Cooper 360 - Carrie CorderoCarrie Cordero, Robert M. Gates senior fellow and general counsel, joins CNN to discuss the situation with the National Guard and possible scenarios moving forward.Watch the f...
By Carrie Cordero
-
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Just Security Podcast: What Just Happened – Federalization of Law Enforcement in Washington DCThis week, the Trump administration took over command of the D.C. police department and surged federal law enforcement officers and National Guard units into the city. While t...
By Carrie Cordero