Ideas
NATO Doesn’t Need 4% Defense Spending
Trump's new call for allies to spend 4 percent of their GDPs on defense makes no sense. Even America shouldn't do that.
Ideas
How Much Has the US Spent to Fight Terror? Here's a Guess
Are we spending too much? Too little? The picture is only growing cloudier.
Policy
House Lawmakers Close Pentagon Budget Hearing to the Public
Mattis and Dunford have open hearings at the Armed Services Committees, but will talk over their $686.1 billion request with House appropriators in private.
Threats
The US Military Budget Shows Just How Deep Donald Trump is Getting Into Syria
Despite Trump's distaste for global entanglements, the U.S. is spending more and more in Syria.
Business
Mattis to Military: You Have Your Money. Spend It Wisely
The defense secretary warns “results and accountability matter in every expenditure.”
Policy
Trump Backs Off Budget Veto in Odd White House Event Laden with Misstatements
The mischaracterization of the 2018 defense budget as the biggest ever was just the start.
Policy
Defense Hawks Soak Up Defense Spending Win. Now What?
The backs of the men and women in uniform — which defense hawks say have so long borne the weight of Congress’s fiscal stumbles — helped carry the $1.3-trillion 2018 spending bill over a key hurdle on Thursday.
Business
How to Grow the Military Without Buying More Ships, Planes, Tanks
Pentagon leaders want to shorten the time spent on overhauls, keeping the weapons more available to fight.
Policy
It Could Get Harder to Track US War Spending
The administration plans to push “enduring” costs from the Overseas Contingency Operations war fund back into the base budget in future years.
Ideas
Putting the Pentagon's Pennies in Perspective
$80 billion is a lot of money. And that's just the "modest" increase on this year's defense budget.
Business
Trump Said He Cut $1B from Air Force One’s Price. His New Budget Says He Hasn't
The Pentagon's budget request sent to Congress on Monday still projects two new Air Force One jetliners costing $4 billion.
Policy
Trump Proposes 10% Bump for the Pentagon — Then Four Flat Years
The coming military buildup is looking smaller than promised.
Policy
Two-Year Budget Deal Would Raise Caps, Give Pentagon $700B in 2018
The deal comes with a new continuing resolution to give House and Senate lawmakers time to work out details.
Business
The Marines Have ‘Too Many Hornets’
The commandant wants to retire beaten-up F/A-18s more quickly as F-35s join the Corps.
Policy
House Speaker: Budget Fights Have ‘Pushed Our Military Past the Breaking Point’
Paul Ryan highlighted defense hawks’ concerns about readiness and funding as Congress tries to avert a shutdown.
Policy
Pentagon Denies Gag Order, Says ‘Services Are Allowed to Talk About Readiness’
They just have to do so carefully — or behind closed doors.
Policy