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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Analysis of the FY 2017 Defense Budget

The Obama administration’s FY 2017 budget—the eighth and final budget submitted by the administration—requests a total of $619.5 billion in funding for national defense.

Report by Todd Harrison — April 20, 2016

The FY2017 Defense Budget and Strategic Outlook

Please join the CSIS International Security Program for a half-day Defense360 conference on the recently released FY2017 defense budget request and strategic priorities.

Event by John J. Hamre , Tina W. Jonas , Mark F. Cancian , Todd Harrison , and Andrew Philip Hunter — March 7, 2016

Defense Outlook: A CSIS Series on Strategy, Budget, Forces, and Acquisition

In January of 2016, CSIS launched a new International Security Program initiative examining the dynamics and interlinkages of strategy, budget, forces, and acquisition on the current and future state of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Event by John J. Hamre , Todd Harrison , Mark F. Cancian , Andrew Philip Hunter , and Kathleen H. Hicks — January 27, 2016

Defense Outlook 2016: What to Know, What to Expect

Defense Outlook 2016: What to Know, What to Expect is an annual review of what happened in the U.S. Department of Defense in 2015 and what CSIS experts are looking for in 2016.

Report by Mark F. Cancian , Todd Harrison , and Kathleen H. Hicks — January 26, 2016

Defense Modernization Plans through the 2020s

Since the enactment of the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, much attention has been paid to the near-term effects of budgetary constraints on national defense.

Report by Todd Harrison — January 26, 2016

Fiscal Futures, U.S. Forces, and Strategic Choices

Defense strategy is ultimately about choices. While strategy should, in principle, drive budget decisions, strategy must also align with the resources available, or it will not be executable in practice.

Report by Mark F. Cancian and Todd Harrison — November 16, 2015

Force of the Future

Please join us for a discussion featuring a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the Pentagon's proposed reforms for the military and civilian personnel systems.

Event by Todd Harrison and Kathleen H. Hicks — September 15, 2015