Increasing the defense budget does not make America safer

A former US senator said the Pentagon has too many opaque weapons programs and increasing the defense budget does not make America safer.

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US officials said President Donald Trump directed the development of a budget plan for the next fiscal year, focusing on a sharp increase in the defense budget and cuts in domestic agencies, an action to materialize Mr. Trump's previous commitment during the election campaign.

Is more money safer?

On February 27, President Trump signed an executive order that could lead to increased defense spending, even though the Pentagon has not fully accounted for the costs and has never been subject to an independent audit.

But the final decision will be up to Congress. After decades of controversial financial management, Congress needs to exercise its oversight power by requiring a full audit of the Pentagon’s finances before considering increasing the budget.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's "big money, big name" weapons development program. Photo: US Navy

Assessing President Trump's proposed defense budget increase, former Senator John Tierney, now executive director of the Washington DC-based Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said that American taxpayers give money to the Pentagon without knowing exactly what they are doing with it.

Meanwhile, billions of dollars are wasted every year without making Americans safer. It seems that Washington has a mindset of “more money will make us safer.” When the idea is “spend smarter for better security.”

Increasing the Pentagon budget without accountability for funding would reduce the efficiency of government spending without improving national security.

Many programs are wasteful.

President Trump has criticized the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, estimating that the program is $160 billion over budget and five years behind schedule.

Following Trump’s criticism, Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, pledged to reduce its latest F-35 purchase plan by $700 million. However, financial experts say Lockheed Martin’s reduction represents just 0.07% of the $1 trillion cost expected over the aircraft’s lifetime.

Another prime example of waste is the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The $29 billion program has been plagued by major development flaws. The LCS is also behind schedule, not fully combat ready, and facing bipartisan skepticism.

The LCS littoral combat ship program has been criticized for being wasteful and lacking in combat capabilities. Photo: CNN

The Pentagon’s mismanagement and programs are just the tip of the iceberg of fiscal irresponsibility. The Pentagon maintains the largest budget of any federal agency but has never been subject to an independent audit.

The Pentagon's budget problems are getting worse. The Pentagon's Office of Inspector General blames the Army for balancing its books incorrectly to cover $6.5 billion in illegal spending in 2015.

In December 2016, the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon had deliberately hidden a report from the Defense Business Council (an independent advisory group to the Pentagon) that called for $125 billion in savings over five years without having to lay off any employees.

Mr. Tierney argued that good financial management would prevent purchases until development was complete and the weapons were proven to be successful in a real combat environment. Mr. Tierney stressed that the Pentagon’s financial management was inefficient, irresponsible and would never be tolerated in a corporate boardroom.

President Trump’s criticism of wasteful Pentagon programs is a positive step. But his proposal to increase the defense budget without conditions attached only increases the federal debt without improving national security.

The former senator concluded that until the Pentagon proves it is accountable to taxpayers, proposed increases in the defense budget should be blocked by Congress.

According to Zing