Defense spending constitutes a sizable share of all spending by the federal government, nearly 20 percent in 2012. CBO analyzes the budgetary effects of proposed legislation related to national security and assesses the cost-effectiveness of current and proposed defense programs. CBO also evaluates federal programs and issues related to veterans.
National Security
featured work
S. 1197, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014Jul 2013 - Cost estimate for the bill as reported by the Senate Committee on Armed Services on June 20, 2013.
H.R. 1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014Jun 2013 - Cost estimate for the bill as reported by the House Committee on Armed Services on June 7, 2013.
Approaches for Scaling Back the Defense Department’s Budget Plans Mar 2013 - The costs of the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) budget plans through 2021 would be much higher than the funding permitted under the Budget Control Act’s statutory caps. CBO examined four options to cut back on DoD’s forces and activities.
Costs of Military Pay and Benefits in the Defense BudgetNov 2012 - For fiscal year 2013, the Department of Defense has requested $150 billion for pay and benefits for current and retired military personnel--more than one-quarter of DoD’s total budget (excluding funding for military operations in Afghanistan).
Long-Term Implications of the 2013 Future Years Defense ProgramJul 2012 - CBO projects that DoD’s plans will cost $123 billion, or 5 percent, more to execute through 2017 than DoD estimates. CBO also projects that the cost of DoD’s plans will exceed the limits established in the Budget Control Act.
latest work
S.J. Res. 21, a joint resolution for the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against the Government of Syria to Respond to Use of Chemical Weapons
cost estimateSeptember 9, 2013Approaches to Reduce Federal Spending on the Defense Health System
presentationJuly 1, 2013H.R. 850, Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013
cost estimateJune 28, 2013S. 960, Syria Transition Support Act of 2013
cost estimateJune 26, 2013H.R. 1299, White Sands Missile Range Security Enhancement Act
cost estimateJune 12, 2013H.R. 910, Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2013
cost estimateJune 7, 2013H.R. 1080, a bill to amend the Sikes Act to promote the use of cooperative agreements under such act for land management related to Department of Defense readiness activities and to amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate interagency cooperation
cost estimateJune 7, 2013Military Retirement—May 2013 Baseline
data or technical informationMay 14, 2013
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