Defense Budget Analysis

The Defense Budget Analysis Program leads the Center’s efforts to provide in-depth, nonpartisan research and analysis of defense funding issues

Led by fellow Seamus Daniels, the program explores trends in the overall defense budget, military readiness, force structure, defense acquisitions, and military compensation in a broader effort to assess the alignment of the country’s defense strategy and its resources.

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Defense Futures Simulator

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, the American Enterprise Institute, and War on the Rocks collaborated to address a shared concern: a lack of understanding about how defense strategy and security objectives are translated into concrete budget choices. To meet this challenge, the three organizations built the Defense Futures Simulator.

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All Defense Budget Analysis Content

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Actual Obligation Rates versus Comptroller Projected Obligation Rates

CSIS provides its assessment of budget execution for DoD acquisition accounts. This report compares obligation rate projections released by the DoD Comptroller with traditional DoD budget execution benchmarks and the actual obligation rates for acquisition accounts.

Report by Seamus P. Daniels and Todd Harrison — March 2, 2020

The Air Force of the Future: A Comparison of Alternative Force Structures

This CSIS ASP report compares, contrasts, and critiques three congressionally mandated studies of the Air Force’s future force structure. This analysis only considers the unclassified material released to provide an independent assessment of the current state of the Air Force.

Report by Todd Harrison — October 29, 2019

Understanding DoD’s Defense-Wide Zero-Based Review

In August, the Defense Department kicked off a broad zero-based review of all defense-wide functions and activities. CSIS’s Seamus Daniels assesses the defense-wide organizations that are subject to the review as well as previous reforms to the “Fourth Estate.”

Brief by Seamus P. Daniels — September 4, 2019

What Does the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Mean for Defense?

On August 2, 2019, President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 into law, raising the budget caps on defense and nondefense spending for FY 2020 and FY 2021 and suspending the debt ceiling. This analysis assesses the impact of the budget deal on defense.

Critical Questions by Seamus P. Daniels and Todd Harrison — August 5, 2019

How Would Sequestration Impact DoD in FY 2020?

Congress will likely pursue a budget agreement that raises the Budget Control Act spending limits from their original levels for FY 2020. This new CSIS brief explains how If Congress fails, the Department of Defense will face sequestration for the first time since 2013.

Brief by Seamus P. Daniels — May 16, 2019

What to Look for in the FY 2020 Defense Budget Request

CSIS International Security Program experts outline their questions and expectations for the Trump administration’s forthcoming FY 2020 defense budget request.  

Brief by Mark F. Cancian, Todd Harrison, Seamus P. Daniels, Andrew Philip Hunter, and Kathleen H. Hicks — January 31, 2019

How Much Will the Space Force Cost?

This CSIS Brief provides rough estimates for the number of personnel, annual budget, and additional funding that would be needed for a Space Force.

Report by Todd Harrison — November 19, 2018