What’s next for US defense strategy and spending?

The United States faces a rapidly evolving security and political landscape, demanding a defense budget that strikes a careful balance between readiness, modernization, and fiscal responsibility. As President Donald Trump begins his second term with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the helm of the Pentagon, the administration has signaled a significant shift in budget priorities, advocating for a restructuring of the U.S. military through targeted spending cuts and reallocations. The secretary of defense has ordered officials to write proposals to cut and reallocate $50 billion—about 8 percent of this year’s defense budget—while Republican lawmakers seek to boost spending by $150 billion over a decade, eventually pushing it close to $1 trillion.

As the new administration sets its defense agenda, critical questions must be addressed. Which programs should be prioritized, and where should cuts be made? How will this refocusing affect military readiness and force structure? What level of investment is needed to strengthen and modernize the military—as well as the defense industrial base itself?

On March 20, the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at Brookings hosted an analytical discussion about the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of U.S. defense strategy and spending. Online viewers submitted questions via e-mail to [email protected] or via X (formerly Twitter) @BrookingsFP using #DefenseSpending.