U.S. Defense Budget

On Topic

The U.S. defense budget has been a subject of increased scrutiny, as sequestration takes effect and debate continues on how to balance military needs while reducing the federal budget. Brookings experts examine the merits and pitfalls of defense budget reduction, and its impact on America's foreign policy and defense strategy.

Top officials from the U.S., France, Germany, Britain, China, Russia and Iran take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Almaty (REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov).

Interview

The Future of the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal

March 20, 2013, Steven Pifer

In an interview on the future of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, Steven Pifer discusses prospects for future international arms negotiations as well as the stability of U.S. and Russian bombs, submarines and planes.

Recent Activity

Refine by: Defense | The Federal Budget and Sequestration | Weapons of Mass Destruction | Nuclear Weapons

Blog Post

Inaction on the Budget: The American People Are Partly to Blame

February 25, 2013, William A. Galston | comments
Blog Post

Preparing for Sequestration: What to Expect

February 25, 2013, William A. Galston and Michael E. O'Hanlon | comments
Interactive | The Hamilton Project

15 Ways to Rethink the Federal Budget

February 2013
Policy Proposal | The Hamilton Project

Making Defense Affordable

February 22, 2013, Cindy Williams
Policy Proposal | The Hamilton Project

National Defense in a Time of Change

February 22, 2013, Adm. Gary Roughead (USN Ret.) and Kori Schake
Past Event

15 Ways to Rethink the Federal Budget—Part I: Budgeting for a Modern Military

February 22, 2013
In the News

There's a defense wing of defense hawks, and they've been pretty vocal about the impact on the Defense Department and national security, generally. And we know there's a hard-core group as well that's opposed to any and all revenue increases. And between the two of those, there's no agreed-upon path of what to do, and so it looks like they may prefer the sequester to any alternative — certainly the alternatives the Democrats are offering up.
February 21, 2013, Sarah A. Binder, National Public Radio
Blog Post

15 Ideas for Smart Deficit Reduction

February 20, 2013, Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney, The Hamilton Project | comments
Past Event

The Army of the Future: A Discussion with General Raymond T. Odierno, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army

February 15, 2013
Opinion | Wall Street Journal

From SEAL Team Six To Retiring Without Health Insurance

February 14, 2013, Michael E. O'Hanlon and Lt. Col. John Barnett (USMC)

View All Research on U.S. Defense Budget ›Show 10 More

Budget Sequestration

See Brookings research on:

Separating Sequestration Facts from Fiction

An Abrams battle tank during a tour of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, Lima Army Tank Plant, in Lima, Ohio (REUTERS/Matt Sullivan).

With sequestration rapidly approaching, federal government agencies and defense contractors are preparing for budget cuts that could have a profound effect on the nation's military.

Read Peter Singer's article on sequestration and the defense budget »

Foreign Policy at Brookings Highlights

A protestor raises flags of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain in front of the parliament in Syntagma square during a 48-hour strike by the two major Greek workers unions in central Athens November 7, 2012. (Reuters/John Kolesidis)

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