Debts, Deficits, and Defense: A Way Forward

Debts, Deficits and Defense: A Way Forward Report of the Sustainable Defense Task Force

In January 2010, President Barack Obama formed the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to advise the administration on options for addressing the U.S. national debt.

The Sustainable Defense Task Force was formed in response to a request from Rep. Barney Frank (MA), working in cooperation with Rep. Walter B. Jones (NC), Rep. Ron Paul (TX), and Sen. Ron Wyden (OR), to explore possible defense budget contributions to the Commission’s deficit reduction efforts that would not compromise the essential security of the United States. The Task Force released its report, “Debt, Deficits and Defense: A Way Forward,” in June, 2010.

The Task Force report does not include any recommendations related to the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It looks only at the Pentagon’s annual “base” budget. The report’s combined recommendations would cut $960 billion over ten years, an average annual reduction of roughly 16 percent below current spending levels.

The report’s options are drawn from numerous sources, with particular care paid to making accurate savings estimates.The report relies heavily on government sources, including military service documents, federal budget materials, and reports by the Government Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional Research Service.