In the News

How to Cut $1 Trillion from the Pentagon

Can the baseline defense budget be cut by $1 trillion without jeopardizing national security? Yes, but it has to be done correctly, writes Lawrence Korb.

Make no mistake: The nation’s debt threatens our national security. That’s not just my opinion. Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is among those who have warned that the unsustainable accumulation of debt will put the nation at risk by sapping the vitality of our economy.

The Pentagon cannot be left out of the hard choices that must be made about spending. In fact, the deficit commission appointed by President Obama has suggested reducing projected levels of defense spending by almost $1 trillion over the next decade.

The above excerpt was originally published in CNNMoney. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Lawrence J. Korb

Former Senior Fellow