Seamus P. Daniels

Fellow, Defense Budget Analysis
Seamus Daniels

Seamus P. Daniels is a fellow for Defense Budget Analysis in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he researches issues related to U.S. and global defense funding, force structure, and military readiness. He has authored publications on trends in the overall U.S. defense budget, the legislative process surrounding defense appropriations, defense strategy and force structure, and NATO burden sharing. Prior to joining CSIS, Mr. Daniels worked for Government Executive Media Group. He holds an MA in international relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and an AB from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs with minors in Near Eastern studies and Arabic language and culture.

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Wartime Footing: A Two-Front Strategy to Confront China and Russia

The United States and its allies face a growing threat from an axis led by China and Russia. This report outlines a two-war planning construct focused on Asia and Europe, and a wartime industrial base focused on low-cost unmanned systems and long-range precision strike.

Report by Seth G. Jones, Seamus P. Daniels, Riley McCabe, and Daniel Byman — June 8, 2026

Executive Education

All About the Base: Acquisition Crash Course

Dive deep into the acquisition processes and industrial base issues impacting government and industry with exclusive insights from CSIS experts in this dynamic one-day course.

Course Date: May 27, 2026
Registration Closes: May 21, 2026
Audio Briefs

Unpacking the $1.5 Trillion FY 2027 Defense Budget Topline

An audio version of "⁠Unpacking the $1.5 Trillion FY 2027 Defense Budget Topline⁠," a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Seamus P. Daniels. This audio was generated with text to speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Seamus P. Daniels — April 10, 2026

Audio Briefs

Unpacking the $1.5 Trillion FY 2027 Defense Budget Topline

On April 3, the White House released details of its defense budget request for FY 2027. Seamus Daniels unpacks the $1.5 trillion topline requested for national defense and its implications for congressional action.

Critical Questions by Seamus P. Daniels — April 10, 2026

Outlining the Challenges to U.S. Naval Shipbuilding

The U.S. naval shipbuilding enterprise struggles to produce ships at the scale and speed demanded despite being a bipartisan priority for successive administrations and Congress. The White House must tackle complex, longstanding challenges to improve shipbuilding capacity.

Report by CSIS Scholars — December 16, 2025

What a Government Shutdown Would Mean for Defense Funding in FY 2026

With Congress failing to pass a continuing resolution to start FY 2026, the Department of Defense faces a shutdown until legislators take action to fund the federal government. Seamus Daniels explains the implications for the Department of Defense.

Critical Questions by Seamus P. Daniels — September 30, 2025

Audio Briefs

What a Government Shutdown Would Mean for Defense Funding in FY 2026

An audio version of “⁠What a Government Shutdown Would Mean for Defense Funding in FY 2026,⁠” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Seamus P. Daniels. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Seamus P. Daniels — September 30, 2025

Audio Briefs

Defense Budgets in an Uncertain Security Environment

Uncertainty in the current global security environment since the start of the Ukraine war has increased global defense spending as states perceive themselves to be at greater risk. But political and fiscal realities will also shape future defense spending levels.

Commentary by Seamus P. Daniels — September 16, 2025

Audio Briefs

Defense Budgets in an Uncertain Security Environment

An audio version of “⁠Defense Budgets in an Uncertain Security Environment⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Seamus P. Daniels. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Seamus P. Daniels — September 16, 2025

Audio Briefs