Content Type: Analysis

Read the most recent analysis from CSIS experts on defense-related issues.

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Analysis / Budget, Reform

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Roundtable

CSIS hosted a roundtable discussion on the prospects for rationalizing the Department of Defense’s real property assets in a strategic context. These experts from across the political spectrum and with widely divergent views on national security nevertheless agreed that some process for base closure and realignment was needed. They also discussed how any future base closure and realignment process needed to learn from the past, to be fair to the local communities, and to accommodate congressional concerns.

Photo courtesy of AFP-Getty
Analysis / Budget

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.

Photo courtesy of US Navy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marine_corps/6276904190
Analysis / Acquisition, Budget

Measuring the Impact of Sequestration and the Defense Drawdown on the Industrial Base

While the implementation of budget cuts from the Budget Control Act of 2011 has caused concerns for the industrial base, the resulting debate lacks empirical analysis. This research measures the impact of the defense drawdown across all the tiers of the industrial base. The technical approach analyzes prime and subprime DoD contract data to measure the drawdown’s impacts by sector to better understand how contractors have responded to this external market shock.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/7414298540/
Analysis / Acquisition

Incentives in Performance-Based Logistics Contracting

This report examines how such incentives are used in PBL contracting and looks further towards how incentives can best be utilized in a PBL contracting environment. This report is structured in three parts: a review of the available literature on the use of incentives in PBL contracting, a data analysis of where and how PBL contracts are used in the DoD, and a summary of initial findings from the experts CSIS has interviewed on the subject.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/6337728522/
Analysis / Acquisition

Overseas Contingency Operations Contracts After Iraq

This study examines the literature on how contracts are fulfilled for both civilian and defense crisis funds, primarily focusing on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), disaster funds, and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds. Utilizing publicly available data, the study provides a methodology for classifying the contracts and analyzes the data based on noncompetitive awards, undefinitized contract actions, and reachback contracts.

Analysis / Reform

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.

Analysis / Reform, Strategy

Use a Strategic Review to Drive Change

Given the various foreign policy and national security challenges, it will be critical that the new administration develop a strategic approach for their policy objectives. Strategy will help the new administration achieve goals, drive change, and determine which issues may benefit from continuity. This analysis provides recommended steps for an effective review process to help develop a strategy for national security challenges.

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