Business

White House: $11.6B More Needed for ISIS Fight, Afghanistan

The request brings the expected 2017 price tag for both wars to $85.3 billion.

Business

Defense Stocks Soar on News of Trump Victory

In early trading, the new commander in chief's promises to rebuild the American military are helping defense stocks buck the wider market plunge.

Business

Kendall: The Pentagon’s Spending Less on Weapons, So Let Me Keep My Job

A 30-year-low in cost growth is part of the defense acquisition undersecretary’s closing argument for why Congress shouldn’t eliminate his position.

Ideas

US Military Spending Has Declined, But It Still Dwarfs All Other Nations'

It’s easy to see why a steady decline of military spending might alarm many Americans. But a bit of perspective is in order.

Ideas

Trump's Defense-and-Budget Plan Has Been Tried Before

The GOP candidate's proposals for irresponsible tax cuts and uncapped defense spending look quite a bit like George W. Bush's.

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.