Defense and National Security
- Report
The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2026 to 2036
In CBO's projections, the federal budget deficit in fiscal year 2026 is $1.9 trillion, and federal debt rises to 120 percent of GDP in 2036. Economic growth strengthens in 2026 and moderates in later years.
- Report
Estimating the Costs of Troop Deployments to U.S. Cities
Federal troop deployments to U.S. cities cost a total of $496 million in 2025, CBO estimates. Continuing current deployments will cost $93 million a month; 1,000 Guard personnel deployed to a city will cost at least $18 million a month.
- Presentation
The Congress, the Golden Fleet, and the Shipbuilding Industrial Base in 2026
Presentation by Eric Labs, an analyst in CBO's National Security Division, at the 38th National Symposium of the Surface Navy Association.
- Report
The Costs of Using the Name "Department of War"
Depending on how DoD implements the order to use the name "Department of War," CBO estimates that costs could range from a few million dollars up to $125 million. A modest implementation of the name change would cost about $10 million.
- Presentation
The 2026 Outlook for Navy Shipbuilding
Presentation by Eric Labs, an analyst in CBO's National Security Division, at the Bank of America Defense Outlook and Commercial Aerospace Forum 2026.
- Report
Maintenance Delays for Conventional Navy Ships
CBO finds that maintenance for Navy destroyers and amphibious warfare ships has often taken longer and required more labor than planned. Those delays affect the fleet's readiness and reflect aging ships, late inspections, and other factors.
- Report
Availability and Use of Aircraft in the Coast Guard
In analyzing the availability and use of aircraft by the U.S. Coast Guard from 2006 to 2024, CBO found that total flying hours have decreased, especially for H-65 helicopters.
- Presentation
A Problem With Measuring the Availability of Military Aircraft During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Presentation by Edward G. Keating, CBO’s Deputy Director of National Security, at the 100th Annual Conference of the Western Economic Association, International.
- Report
Availability, Use, and Operating and Support Costs of F-35 Fighter Aircraft
CBO analyzes the recent availability, use, and operating and support costs of F-35 fighter aircraft. As F-35s have aged, their availability and use have decreased and have been lower than those of other fighter aircraft of the same age.
- Interactive
CBO’s Interactive Force Structure Tool
This tool allows the user to see the effects on the Department of Defense's total operation and support costs and on the size of the military of adding or subtracting tanks, ships, aircraft, and other units.