Friday, 29 March 2024
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Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee saying, "nothing is off the table" regarding defense spending cuts to the Pentagon's Future Combat Systems (FCS) programs. Five programs within the FCS, which is the army's principle modernization procedure, account for "half the total cost growth in weapons spending," according to Gates.

These words indicate a clear policy shift chosen by the Obama administration, which may seek to end, or at the very least reduce, Bush-era defense spending. The Pentagon has already proposed a budget of $580.3 billion, prior to the election of the new President. Obama, who has expressed his desire to overhaul the federal budget, is largely expected to target defense spending.


Experts at The Heritage Foundation, strongly oppose defense cuts or any attempt to correlate defense spending with a federal budget overhaul prompted by economic woes. Sufficient defense spending is neither the cause, nor the solution for our current financial situation, but rather the necessary means by which American can remain the leader of the free world.

Instead, The Heritage Foundation recommends a steady allocation of 4 percent GDP focused towards defense spending. This is not only feasible and crucial for our security, but it is actually a significant decrease from the Cold War years. Federal entitlement spending as a percentage of GDP on the other hand has grown significantly since the 1960's and now makes up about half of the federal budget. Due in part to the 78 million baby boomers that will be retiring over the next couple decades, current projections show that entitlement spending will likely continue to outpace economic growth. Yes, a federal budget overhaul is needed, just not for defense spending.

Copyright 2009 The Heritage Foundation. www.heritage.org Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.

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