Defense Budget and Acquisition

CSIS experts track the foremost budget issues in the defense policy sphere, exploring trends in the overall defense budget, military readiness, force structure, defense acquisition, and military compensation in a broader effort to assess the alignment of the country’s defense strategy and its resources.

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Photo: Roger Viollet via Getty Images

Photo: Roger Viollet via Getty Images

Why the Army Needs Deception Groups

To outsmart modern threats, the U.S. Army must bring back “ghost armies”—dedicated deception units that manipulate what the enemy sees and believes, creating the space and confusion needed to maneuver and win on today’s transparent battlefield.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — January 29, 2026

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Jerry McGinn
Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department