An Open Letter on BRAC
CSIS experts Todd Harrison, Kathleen Hicks, Andrew Hunter, Mark Cancian, and Raymond DuBois recently signed an open letter calling on members of Congress to authorize a round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
Todd Harrison
is the director of defense budget analysis and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS. Mr. Harrison joined CSIS from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, where he was a senior fellow for defense budget studies. He previously worked at Booz Allen Hamilton and in the aerospace industry and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
What to Expect in the FY 2018 Defense Budget
On Tuesday, the Trump administration plans to release its first budget request to Congress, which will include a detailed budget proposal for defense. This will be the first chance to see the specific priorities of the new administration and gauge whether campaign rhetoric about growing the military will become administration policy.
Trump’s Bigger Military Won’t Necessarily Make the US Stronger or Safer
The Pentagon can’t properly train and support the people and weapons it already has. Simply adding more won’t solve the problem — and could undermine long-term readiness.
Defense Reform in a New Administration
As the President-elect has indicated since winning the election, defense reform is likely to remain a high priority in the new administration. Decisions that the new administration make over the coming years will shape the future military. This analysis provides recommendations that should be considered for reforming the defense budget.
The Enduring Dilemma of Overseas Contingency Operations Funding
Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding poses challenges for the new administration as they prepare its FY 2018 budget request. OCO funding is intended for war-related activities that cannot be forecasted. However, it has become a convenient loophole for defense spending since it is not restricted by the Budget Control Act (BCA) budget caps. This analysis address the challenges presented by OCO funding and possible options for handling base budget activities in OCO.
MUOS-5 highlights a critical U.S. vulnerability in space
The failure of the MUOS 5 highlights vulnerabilities for the U.S. military space systems. This vulnerability shows that the current space architecture places too many eggs in too few baskets. As such the military needs to rethink its space architecture, but how should it consider changes for future space systems?
Next Steps for Japan-U.S. Cooperation in Space
By increasing Japan-U.S. cooperation in space the alliance’s space systems and help deter aggression in space. Increased cooperation in space can be a strategic advantage for the alliance and a cornerstone of the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. This report addresses next steps for this alliance in space.
The Nuclear Cost Debate Gets Even Uglier
Nuclear modernization is going to be a costly endeavor, but how much will it truly cost. The modernization debate throws out varying numbers without addressing what the numbers mean. Rather than argue over numbers this article asserts that the debate should revolve around the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense strategy and if the cost is worth the investment.
The Wrong Way to Reduce Military Compensation
This year, the Senate and House versions of the National Defense Authorization Act are full of reform initiatives, such as reductions in the number of general officers and the creation of an under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
What Has the Budget Control Act of 2011 Meant for Defense?
Watch our video on the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 discuss the emergence of the BCA, its impact on defense, and the practicalities of the BCA on defense budgeting. Additionally, the resource includes critical questions about the BCA.