Mackenize Eaglen writes for National Review Online about one of President Donald Trump’s most significant actions.
After three decades of guided degradation and two long wars, the U.S. military is in need of a comprehensive refresh of its combat systems, technology, infrastructure, doctrine, and training. Deep in the “Terrible 20s,” America’s military is attempting to recapitalize both its conventional and strategic forces in the same decade, when all the bills are due simultaneously.
This is why a suggested record-high defense increase on top of last year’s large request is needed. The proposed fiscal year 2027 defense budget — totaling $1.5 trillion — seeks a surge in capital investment comparable to the Reagan buildup. Further, it takes time to redress readiness of high operations tempo, rebuild for the current moment, and jump-start an institution that has been in stasis.
Some highlights from the latest military spending request include an emphasis on bureaucratic reform, procurement, infrastructure on bases, and expanding the shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense industrial base.
Reform. The administration is undertaking generational changes in how the military buys equipment, hires and fires personnel, and streamlines bureaucracy. Built-in flexibility allows the pursuit of strategic reform. While steadily improving, the Pentagon has yet to complete a full audit of all its organizations. A bigger budget would help leaders go faster in pushing accountability and updating the back-end business systems of this massive agency. Innovative tools must also be abundant, such as multiyear contracting for critical capabilities like munitions. These costs, according to White House Budget Director Russell Vought before Congress earlier this month, must be “booked in the first year.”
Procurement. At last, this year’s request seeks a higher percentage increase in procurement, at 85 percent, than all other major defense accounts. Targeting increases on military modernization is important, as the procurement-to-R&D ratio has gotten dramatically out of whack historically (three-to-one in the Reagan years versus one-to-one today).
