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Budget

February 2020

Congress Unlikely to Pass 2021 Budget on Time

By Jon Harper
President Donald Trump released his 2021 budget request in February, nearly eight months before the start of the next fiscal year, and lawmakers have already agreed on a defense topline of $740.5 billion. Nevertheless, it’s still unlikely that Congress will pass appropriations before Oct. 1, experts say.
Budget

February 2020

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Budget Proposal Funds Second Coast Guard Icebreaker

By Stew Magnuson
The Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 keeps the Coast Guard’s overall funding relatively flat, but does fund a second polar icebreaker, one of the service’s top priorities.
Defense Department

February 2020

BUDGET 2021: Tradeoffs, Aircraft Retirements Drive Air Force Budget Request

By Stew Magnuson
Great power competition and the cutting edge technologies that support it dominated the Trump administration’s Air Force budget request for the next fiscal year.
Budget

February 2020

BUDGET 2021: Pentagon Rolls Out First Space Force Budget

By Stew Magnuson
The newest member of the armed services, the Space Force, received its first budget from the Trump administration as a “separate but co-equal” branch of the U.S. military, asking for $15.4 billion in fiscal year 2021.
Budget

February 2020

BUDGET 2021: Trump Budget Would Cut Marine Corps Funding, Force Structure

By Mandy Mayfield
The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget request cuts the Marine Corps funding by $1.4 billion and eliminated more than 2,000 active-duty Marine positions, according to budget documents released February 10.
Defense Department

February 2020

BUDGET 2021: Trump Proposes Flat Pentagon Budget

By Jon Harper
Despite growing concerns about China and Russia, the Defense Department’s budget would essentially remain flat under President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget request, which was unveiled Feb. 10.
Robotics and Autonomous Systems

February 2020

Analysts Say $25 Billion Needed Annually for AI

By Jon Harper
The U.S. government must ramp up its investments in artificial intelligence to avoid falling behind other countries, technology experts are warning in a new report.
Space

January 2020

Hyten: Challenges Remain in Building Space Force Budget

By Mandy Mayfield
One of the most difficult aspects of building out the architecture of a stand-alone Space Force is accurately budgeting for the service, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Jan 29, 2020.
Budget

January 2020

Tensions with Iran Could Impact Defense Spending

By Jon Harper
Ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran could significantly affect U.S. military spending, depending on how the situation develops, analysts say.
Budget

January 2020

Esper: Big Boost for Hypersonics Funding in 2021 Budget

By Stew Magnuson
The big increases in research-and-development dollars going toward hypersonics research will be getting even bigger, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Jan. 24.