Business
Neither Clinton Nor Trump Will Be Able to Fix the Pentagon’s Budget
With the federal budget capped through 2021, defense spending will be an immediate first test of the next American president.
Ideas
Congress Should Demand Wiser, Not More, War Spending
There’s too much slush in the supplemental, as shown by the fourfold jump in spending per deployed servicemember.
Ideas
Keep It Secret: Congress Should Back Off the B-21 Program
Lawmakers' calls for more transparency and fixed-price contracts will only hurt an Air Force acquisition effort that is doing well so far.
Ideas
Things Lawmakers Should Do Before They Complain About Military Readiness
A few common-sense Congressional actions would go a long way toward funding troops’ preparedness.
Ideas
Global Defense Spending Is Getting Murkier
Many of the governments that are spending more on their militaries are also the least transparent.
Ideas
Don’t Let the Pentagon Become the Next Enron
Bad financial assumptions and unwillingness to make hard choices threaten to undermine national security.
Policy
There's a Reason Ted Cruz Won't Say How Much His Pentagon Plans Will Cost
More soldiers, ships, subs, planes, drone pilots—in short, the fiscal conservative wants to spend en enormous amount of money.
Ideas
Obama Punts Controversial War Account to Successor
The president, who decried the Pentagon’s 'dishonest' war chest, will leave office with it firmly entrenched.
Ideas
Congress Must Stop the Decline of Our Military Readiness
Here's what President Obama's final defense spending request should have included.
Policy
The Coming Dogfight Between the F-35 and the New Bomber
A battle is brewing between the two multibillion-dollar aircraft programs — and the defense companies, lobbyists, and Pentagon offices that back them.
Ideas
Three Reasons the 2017 Defense Budget Won’t Be Enough (And How to Fix It)
The responsible path is not the easy path, but there is bipartisan support for a stronger defense budget and ways to make it happen.
Science & Tech
These Are the New Weapons the Pentagon Chief Wants for Tomorrow's Wars
Defense secretary lays out his vision for the next decade’s killer capabilities in 2017 budget preview.
Business
Pentagon Running Low on Smart Bombs for ISIS Campaign
In a preview of the Pentagon’s 2017 budget, Defense Secretary Carter signals a coming acceleration of the 18-month-old bombing effort.
Business
What to Watch for in 2016
It’s likely to be an important transitional year for many defense issues as the Obama administration draws to a close.
Ideas
We’re Long Overdue for Due Diligence in Defense
Defense Secretary Carter deserves applause for cutting the Navy’s LCS, and encouragement to think more broadly.
Business
Putting Civilians in US Troop Support Jobs Could Save Billions, Report Says
Converting 80,000 active-duty jobs to civilian positions could save as much as $5.7B per year, according to a new Congressional Budget Office analysis.
Policy
Obama Quietly Signs Guantanamo Freeze Into Law — But Hints at Executive Action
The president gave the defense authorization bill his signature, but rejected what he called unconstitutional restrictions on his push to close the U.S. military prison in Cuba.
Business
Fate of Pentagon War Budget Left to Obama’s Successor
The Obama administration will submit its final budget to Congress in February, a spending plan that will include tens of billions of dollars for a 15-year-old war in Afghanistan and a new war against ISIS.
Business