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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Financing the Fight

As Congress begins debating budget processes in DoD, it will need to assess the processes for utilizing approved budgets, or budget execution. This report provides a history and assessment of DoD budget execution processes and offers recommendations to improve them.

Report by Robert F. Hale — November 2, 2021

Battle Networks and the Future Force

This paper draws on lessons from previous attempts to improve battle network integration and explores how DoD can properly scope the problem and organize itself to effectively and efficiently acquire the systems needed to realize its vision for JADC2.

Brief by Todd Harrison — November 2, 2021

Reaching Farther, Risking Less

Remotely crewed systems play an important role for ISR in contested spaces. This brief examines DoD's investment, comparing budget and strategy. The Air Force led early in remotely crewed systems, but has reduced its investment while spending on maritime systems increased.

Brief by Rose Butchart, Gregory Sanders, Jill N. Cheney, and Sevan Araz — September 22, 2021

Assessing Trends in Military Personnel Costs

While today’s military is near its smallest size since the end of World War II by almost all measures, personnel costs are at historically high levels. This CSIS report examines trends in military personnel costs and key drivers of growth over the past several decades.

Report by Seamus P. Daniels — September 9, 2021

Battle Networks and the Future Force

An integrated battle network has been a major focus area for the DoD and Congress for years. This brief examines the importance of battle networks to modern military operations and presents a framework of five functional elements that make up a battle network.

Brief by Todd Harrison — August 5, 2021

Priorities and Challenges for the FY 2022 Defense Budget

Please join CSIS for a conversation on the FY 2022 defense budget with Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, Mackenzie Eaglen (AEI), and Todd Harrison, Director, Defense Budget Analysis and Senior Fellow, International Security Program.

Event — May 12, 2021

Rethinking the Role of Remotely Crewed Systems in the Future Force

Remotely crewed systems can help the military balance the trade-offs that resource constraints require among force structure, investment, and readiness. This report compares operating costs between remotely piloted aircraft and crewed aircraft to inform future trade-offs.

Brief by Todd Harrison — March 3, 2021

Rethinking Military Roles and Missions in a New Administration

It’s been 70 years since the Department of Defense (DoD) last formally reviewed the roles and missions set of its component services. With the creation of the Space Force and the rise of new technologies, it’s more than time for DoD to conduct a new review.

Critical Questions by Todd Harrison — February 2, 2021

Defense Budget Priorities for the Biden Administration

The Biden administration will shape its defense plans in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 threat and historically large federal deficits. CSIS’s Seamus Daniels explores the budget landscape and potential priorities for the new Defense Department leadership.

Critical Questions by Seamus P. Daniels — February 2, 2021