Yes, skepticism is warranted. Yet it's refreshing after 8+ years of rising Pentagon budgets under Trump and Biden to hear that cuts are being proposed -- not more boosts in spending.
Of course, Congress and weapons makers will scream bloody murder if the cuts affect them. No surprise there.
As you state, meaningful budget cuts will not take place unless peace is actually considered as a part of the equation. From Bill Hartung's article: "A more restrained strategy that refrains from launching unnecessary wars like America’s fiasco in Iraq, or from subsidizing aggression, as the U.S. has done by providing military aid to Israel for its campaign of mass slaughter in Gaza, would not only be less costly, it would make America safer. But a thorough rethinking of America’s national security strategy is a job that neither Congress or the Executive Branch has done in any serious way, either because members are busy fighting to get their jurisdictions the largest possible piece of the Pentagon budget pie, or because “independent” commissions meant to chart a new course are stocked with members who have financial ties to the weapons industry.
Who is threatening the USA? It should be the fundamental question that is completely absent from any discussion about the budget for the military. I think the only politician in my lifetime who seems to have thought about it seriously was JFK before he was assassinated.
New bogeymen are invented all the time ("terrorist" groups no one ever heard of suddenly materialize!). And there's always the Evil Chinese and Evil DPRK, Evil Cubans, etc. The Evil Russkies just might be getting a break, and in a historical precedent I agree with the rightwing media accused on (I think it was CNN or NY Times) of declaring the detente "a breath of fresh air"!!
Isn't it in "1984" stated "He who controls [manipulates the history and understanding of] the past controls the present, and he who controls the present controls the future"?? Mr. Zelensky is certainly right on target in stating that Trump dwells in "Disinformation space." But then again, from Day One disinformation has been a bedrock operation of the Deep State that Trump supposedly hankers to dismantle. Time will tell who is more competent, more polished in this arena!
Oh, and I'm not a "news junkie" but I don't recall seeing anything yet about Trump getting cozy again with 'Little Rocket Man' in the DPRK. Will their "bromance" be revived??
Hopefully we see some pentagon spending cut. Only an (R) could get away with doing it in any significant amount.
I can't help but think, though, that some underling has developed a list of pentagon contractors that do business in the district of/contribute to campaigns of/bribe certain (D) politicians and those will be the contracts that are coincidentally somehow more wasteful than any others.
One thing to be wary of; when they talk about percentage cuts they often mean a certain percentage of planned spending. This means that actual spending can rise but not as fast as planned, so they claim a "cut". This happens all the time with regard to accusations of domestic spending cuts. As for me I will believe it when I see it.
No. That's the one thing the President and his orange puppet won't cut. If there are indeed line items stricken from the budget, the "savings" will go into more contracts for Elon.
Yes. As a leading figure in aerospace--whether he has any actual personal expertise or no--I can't help but suspect the "illegal immigrant from S. Africa"--Steve Bannon's words!!--will find a way to profit from this.
It's campaign trail hyperbole. Trump spews figures around without thinking or filtering himself. Then his underlings have to scramble and try to figure out "Is that even possible? How can we best hoodwink the public into believing this?"
Without a major revision of the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and rational reducing quantities of weapons and units/formations in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 8% is just a catchy headline.
IOW, first 8% may be waste reduction, and temporary one time savings beyond that first increment is serious reducing.
I'm waiting for the Evil Twins running the show to claim they've saved "billions" by trashing anything resembling DEI!! Hey, here's an idea: discharge all Inspectors General within the military, and any offices that would handle complaints of sexual harassment or abuse! From this evening's (Feb. 19) news stories, it sounds like Trump wants to quash prosecution of any elected official (that's his puppet, at least) for CORRUPTION, not just in NYC but nationally!! Well, it takes one to know one, for sure! In TrumpWorld, the only CORRUPT gov't officers are any who try to investigate Trump and his associates and sycophants. Hello, Lewis Carroll!
"Through the Looking Glass", was a ready reference for much of my time in DoD acquisition programs. No test is a failure and the lipstick on the flying pigs was always thick...... The new stuff is better than the old which is not a compliment!
The "card-carrying member[s] of the military-industrial complex (MIC)" I am in touch with believe that the Navy and Air Force need enormous budget increases so they can pursue beating China in an arms race and keep China 'contained' at their coastline. The Navy has done this since WWII but can no longer. China's economy is such that it can make two or three of every missile, ship, and aircraft that the U.S. can produce. A sober U.S. will pursue something other than military dominance.
Listening to the news in the background, MSNBC says the Republican House passed a bill with a $100 Billion increase in the Pentagon Budget. Who rules? Trump or Congress?
The Pentagon wants to shift spending to Trump's plan for an 'Iron Dome for America,' which will have a huge price tag and likely start a new arms race...
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert G. Salesses said in a statement on Wednesday night that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of Pentagon spending to realign spending to fund priorities of the Trump administration.
The statement from Salesses came after a report from The Washington Post said that Hegseth ordered a plan to cut Pentagon spending by 8% each year over the next five years. BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT FROM SALESSES, THE IDEA IS TO REDIRECT SPENDING AND NOT ACTUALLY MAKE CUTS TO THE BUDGET.
“SECRETARY HEGSETH HAS DIRECTED A REVIEW TO IDENTIFY OFFSETS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FY26 BUDGET THAT COULD BE REALIGNED FROM LOW-IMPACT AND LOW-PRIORITY BIDEN-LEGACY PROGRAMS TO ALIGN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AMERICA FIRST PRIORITIES FOR OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE,” SALESSES SAID.
“The Department will develop a list of potential offsets that could be used to fund these priorities, as well as to refocus the Department on its core mission of deterring and winning wars. THE OFFSETS ARE TARGETED AT 8% OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FY26 BUDGET, TOTALING AROUND $50 BILLION, WHICH WILL THEN BE SPENT ON PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PRIORITIES,” he added.
On Thursday, Hegseth said that the Trump administration would be taking $50 billion away from “woke Biden-era non-lethal programs and instead spend that money on President Trump’s America First, peace through strength priorities.”
Hegseth criticized The Washington Post for reporting on misrepresenting his memo, which he said was “clear as a bell.” The Pentagon chief said he wanted the “biggest, most badass military on the planet.”
In his statement, Salesses said that through the Trump administration’s budget, the Pentagon “will once again resource warfighting and cease unnecessary spending that set our military back under the previous administration, including through so-called “climate change” and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy.”
Salesses said spending priorities from the Trump administration include the “Iron Dome for America,” referring to an order from the president to establish a major new missile defense system, a project that would be a boon for the weapons makers and likely start a new arms race. TRUMP HAS ALSO BACKED A BUDGET PLAN DRAWN UP BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD INCREASE MILITARY SPENDING BY $100 BILLION.
According to Breaking Defense, the memo issued by Hegseth included 17 CATEGORIES OF SPENDING THAT WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE OFFSETS:
Southwest Border Activities
Combating Transnational Criminal Organizations in the Western Hemisphere
Audit
Nuclear Modernization (including NC3)
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs)
Virginia-class Submarines
Executable Surface Ships
Homeland Missile Defense
One-Way Attack/Autonomous Systems
Counter-small UAS Initiatives
Priority Critical Cybersecurity
Munitions
Core Readiness, including full DRT funding
Munitions and Energetics Organic Industrial Bases
Executable INDOPACOM MILCON (military construction in the Asia Pacific)
Combatant Command support agency funding for INDOPACOM, NORTHCOM, SPACECOM, STRATCOM, CYBERCOM, and TRANSCOM
This was emailed to 17 US Senators, Republican & Democrat, and tweeted to CNN & MSNBC TV personalities, and others yesterday:
I am writing to share a message of urgency and hope—a vision for global unity and prosperity that aligns with the values of service, peace, and collective responsibility. As someone with significant influence and a platform to inspire change, I believe this message resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities of our time.
“It is hoped that private firms and entrepreneurs will have the ambition to serve their nations, dedicate themselves to development, abide by the law, conduct business ethically, promote common prosperity, and contribute to the advancement of a modern, equitable society.”
Imagine if every private firm and entrepreneur across the globe—East, West, North, and South—embraced this goal as part of our shared humanity. In this era of unprecedented global connectivity, for the first time in 6,000 years of human history, we have the tools to unite and work toward a common purpose. This is not just an ideal; it is a necessity.
As a Canadian closely observing the unfolding events in America, I am convinced that if we, as a global community, can align our efforts with this vision—guided by divine wisdom—we can achieve what has been prophesied for generations:
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
This is the Hope of the Ages, and it is within our grasp—but only if we act now.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher. Powerful forces are at work to prevent this vision from becoming reality. The rich and powerful, entrenched in a pyramid system that prioritizes their interests, are resisting the change we desperately need. This system, with its narrow base of wealth and power at the top, is inherently unstable. It is like the inverse pyramid, teetering on its tip, ready to topple—a symbol of fragility and impending collapse, in the Israeli Star of David.
However, there are signs of hope. The proposed cuts to the Pentagon budget by Trump’s America First Christian Nationalists, while controversial, could be a first step toward redirecting resources from war to peace. This is a necessary disruption, no matter how challenging.
The approach matters. The current strategy of Shock and Awe risks a hard crash rather than the more manageable, though still difficult, hard landing. The people must have a voice in this process. If we fail to cooperate, the pyramid of power will collapse under its own weight, taking everyone down with it.
The Time to Act is Now. As President John F. Kennedy once urged, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This timeless call to collective responsibility resonates now more than ever. We must rise above self-interest and work together for the greater good.
We cannot afford to wait. The choices we make today will determine whether we fulfill the ancient prophecy of peace or succumb to chaos. Let us come together, across borders and ideologies, to build a world where prosperity is shared, where nations no longer wage war, and where humanity thrives as one.
This is not just a dream—it is a call to action. The future is in our hands.
Great article, as usual Bill. You should read my book "Vietnam Reconsidered: The War, the Times, and Why They Matter," especially Chapter 21 "The Cost of Militarism." Give me an address and I will mail you a copy. Also, you should read "The Cost of Loyalty" by Tim Bakken. I read your every message and give you the very greatest credence.
Yes, skepticism is warranted. Yet it's refreshing after 8+ years of rising Pentagon budgets under Trump and Biden to hear that cuts are being proposed -- not more boosts in spending.
Of course, Congress and weapons makers will scream bloody murder if the cuts affect them. No surprise there.
As usual with the Pentagon and the MICIMATT, the devil's in the details, notes Bill Hartung in this piece:
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pentagon-budget-200-billion/
As you state, meaningful budget cuts will not take place unless peace is actually considered as a part of the equation. From Bill Hartung's article: "A more restrained strategy that refrains from launching unnecessary wars like America’s fiasco in Iraq, or from subsidizing aggression, as the U.S. has done by providing military aid to Israel for its campaign of mass slaughter in Gaza, would not only be less costly, it would make America safer. But a thorough rethinking of America’s national security strategy is a job that neither Congress or the Executive Branch has done in any serious way, either because members are busy fighting to get their jurisdictions the largest possible piece of the Pentagon budget pie, or because “independent” commissions meant to chart a new course are stocked with members who have financial ties to the weapons industry.
Who is threatening the USA? It should be the fundamental question that is completely absent from any discussion about the budget for the military. I think the only politician in my lifetime who seems to have thought about it seriously was JFK before he was assassinated.
New bogeymen are invented all the time ("terrorist" groups no one ever heard of suddenly materialize!). And there's always the Evil Chinese and Evil DPRK, Evil Cubans, etc. The Evil Russkies just might be getting a break, and in a historical precedent I agree with the rightwing media accused on (I think it was CNN or NY Times) of declaring the detente "a breath of fresh air"!!
Quite a budget to fight phantoms of our sick imagination.
Isn't it in "1984" stated "He who controls [manipulates the history and understanding of] the past controls the present, and he who controls the present controls the future"?? Mr. Zelensky is certainly right on target in stating that Trump dwells in "Disinformation space." But then again, from Day One disinformation has been a bedrock operation of the Deep State that Trump supposedly hankers to dismantle. Time will tell who is more competent, more polished in this arena!
Oh, and I'm not a "news junkie" but I don't recall seeing anything yet about Trump getting cozy again with 'Little Rocket Man' in the DPRK. Will their "bromance" be revived??
Hopefully we see some pentagon spending cut. Only an (R) could get away with doing it in any significant amount.
I can't help but think, though, that some underling has developed a list of pentagon contractors that do business in the district of/contribute to campaigns of/bribe certain (D) politicians and those will be the contracts that are coincidentally somehow more wasteful than any others.
One thing to be wary of; when they talk about percentage cuts they often mean a certain percentage of planned spending. This means that actual spending can rise but not as fast as planned, so they claim a "cut". This happens all the time with regard to accusations of domestic spending cuts. As for me I will believe it when I see it.
"Will Pentagon spending finally be cut?"
No. That's the one thing the President and his orange puppet won't cut. If there are indeed line items stricken from the budget, the "savings" will go into more contracts for Elon.
Yes. As a leading figure in aerospace--whether he has any actual personal expertise or no--I can't help but suspect the "illegal immigrant from S. Africa"--Steve Bannon's words!!--will find a way to profit from this.
How can you cut by 8% or 50% of what you really don't know?
It's campaign trail hyperbole. Trump spews figures around without thinking or filtering himself. Then his underlings have to scramble and try to figure out "Is that even possible? How can we best hoodwink the public into believing this?"
8% a year is a very nice headline.
Without a major revision of the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and rational reducing quantities of weapons and units/formations in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 8% is just a catchy headline.
IOW, first 8% may be waste reduction, and temporary one time savings beyond that first increment is serious reducing.
Except they'll apply the 8% savings to R&D for hyper-hypersonic missiles or to build military bases on the moon.
I'm waiting for the Evil Twins running the show to claim they've saved "billions" by trashing anything resembling DEI!! Hey, here's an idea: discharge all Inspectors General within the military, and any offices that would handle complaints of sexual harassment or abuse! From this evening's (Feb. 19) news stories, it sounds like Trump wants to quash prosecution of any elected official (that's his puppet, at least) for CORRUPTION, not just in NYC but nationally!! Well, it takes one to know one, for sure! In TrumpWorld, the only CORRUPT gov't officers are any who try to investigate Trump and his associates and sycophants. Hello, Lewis Carroll!
"Through the Looking Glass", was a ready reference for much of my time in DoD acquisition programs. No test is a failure and the lipstick on the flying pigs was always thick...... The new stuff is better than the old which is not a compliment!
Billions spent through contrivances.....
"Will Pentagon Spending Finally Be Cut?"
No . . . not without a clean sweep of Congress.
https://warismakinguspoor.com/a-nation-at-peace/
The "card-carrying member[s] of the military-industrial complex (MIC)" I am in touch with believe that the Navy and Air Force need enormous budget increases so they can pursue beating China in an arms race and keep China 'contained' at their coastline. The Navy has done this since WWII but can no longer. China's economy is such that it can make two or three of every missile, ship, and aircraft that the U.S. can produce. A sober U.S. will pursue something other than military dominance.
Listening to the news in the background, MSNBC says the Republican House passed a bill with a $100 Billion increase in the Pentagon Budget. Who rules? Trump or Congress?
And then. on the other hand, there’s this... :
PENTAGON SAYS HEGSETH’S ORDER WILL REDIRECT SPENDING, NOT MAKE ACTUAL CUTS by Dave DeCamp antiwar.com 20 Feb 25
Source: https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/20/pentagon-says-hegseths-order-will-redirect-spending-not-make-actual-cuts/ [EMPHASES added.]
The Pentagon wants to shift spending to Trump's plan for an 'Iron Dome for America,' which will have a huge price tag and likely start a new arms race...
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert G. Salesses said in a statement on Wednesday night that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of Pentagon spending to realign spending to fund priorities of the Trump administration.
The statement from Salesses came after a report from The Washington Post said that Hegseth ordered a plan to cut Pentagon spending by 8% each year over the next five years. BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT FROM SALESSES, THE IDEA IS TO REDIRECT SPENDING AND NOT ACTUALLY MAKE CUTS TO THE BUDGET.
“SECRETARY HEGSETH HAS DIRECTED A REVIEW TO IDENTIFY OFFSETS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FY26 BUDGET THAT COULD BE REALIGNED FROM LOW-IMPACT AND LOW-PRIORITY BIDEN-LEGACY PROGRAMS TO ALIGN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AMERICA FIRST PRIORITIES FOR OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE,” SALESSES SAID.
“The Department will develop a list of potential offsets that could be used to fund these priorities, as well as to refocus the Department on its core mission of deterring and winning wars. THE OFFSETS ARE TARGETED AT 8% OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S FY26 BUDGET, TOTALING AROUND $50 BILLION, WHICH WILL THEN BE SPENT ON PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PRIORITIES,” he added.
On Thursday, Hegseth said that the Trump administration would be taking $50 billion away from “woke Biden-era non-lethal programs and instead spend that money on President Trump’s America First, peace through strength priorities.”
Hegseth criticized The Washington Post for reporting on misrepresenting his memo, which he said was “clear as a bell.” The Pentagon chief said he wanted the “biggest, most badass military on the planet.”
In his statement, Salesses said that through the Trump administration’s budget, the Pentagon “will once again resource warfighting and cease unnecessary spending that set our military back under the previous administration, including through so-called “climate change” and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy.”
Salesses said spending priorities from the Trump administration include the “Iron Dome for America,” referring to an order from the president to establish a major new missile defense system, a project that would be a boon for the weapons makers and likely start a new arms race. TRUMP HAS ALSO BACKED A BUDGET PLAN DRAWN UP BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD INCREASE MILITARY SPENDING BY $100 BILLION.
According to Breaking Defense, the memo issued by Hegseth included 17 CATEGORIES OF SPENDING THAT WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE OFFSETS:
Southwest Border Activities
Combating Transnational Criminal Organizations in the Western Hemisphere
Audit
Nuclear Modernization (including NC3)
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs)
Virginia-class Submarines
Executable Surface Ships
Homeland Missile Defense
One-Way Attack/Autonomous Systems
Counter-small UAS Initiatives
Priority Critical Cybersecurity
Munitions
Core Readiness, including full DRT funding
Munitions and Energetics Organic Industrial Bases
Executable INDOPACOM MILCON (military construction in the Asia Pacific)
Combatant Command support agency funding for INDOPACOM, NORTHCOM, SPACECOM, STRATCOM, CYBERCOM, and TRANSCOM
Medical Private-Sector Care
This was emailed to 17 US Senators, Republican & Democrat, and tweeted to CNN & MSNBC TV personalities, and others yesterday:
I am writing to share a message of urgency and hope—a vision for global unity and prosperity that aligns with the values of service, peace, and collective responsibility. As someone with significant influence and a platform to inspire change, I believe this message resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities of our time.
“It is hoped that private firms and entrepreneurs will have the ambition to serve their nations, dedicate themselves to development, abide by the law, conduct business ethically, promote common prosperity, and contribute to the advancement of a modern, equitable society.”
Imagine if every private firm and entrepreneur across the globe—East, West, North, and South—embraced this goal as part of our shared humanity. In this era of unprecedented global connectivity, for the first time in 6,000 years of human history, we have the tools to unite and work toward a common purpose. This is not just an ideal; it is a necessity.
As a Canadian closely observing the unfolding events in America, I am convinced that if we, as a global community, can align our efforts with this vision—guided by divine wisdom—we can achieve what has been prophesied for generations:
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
This is the Hope of the Ages, and it is within our grasp—but only if we act now.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher. Powerful forces are at work to prevent this vision from becoming reality. The rich and powerful, entrenched in a pyramid system that prioritizes their interests, are resisting the change we desperately need. This system, with its narrow base of wealth and power at the top, is inherently unstable. It is like the inverse pyramid, teetering on its tip, ready to topple—a symbol of fragility and impending collapse, in the Israeli Star of David.
However, there are signs of hope. The proposed cuts to the Pentagon budget by Trump’s America First Christian Nationalists, while controversial, could be a first step toward redirecting resources from war to peace. This is a necessary disruption, no matter how challenging.
The approach matters. The current strategy of Shock and Awe risks a hard crash rather than the more manageable, though still difficult, hard landing. The people must have a voice in this process. If we fail to cooperate, the pyramid of power will collapse under its own weight, taking everyone down with it.
The Time to Act is Now. As President John F. Kennedy once urged, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This timeless call to collective responsibility resonates now more than ever. We must rise above self-interest and work together for the greater good.
We cannot afford to wait. The choices we make today will determine whether we fulfill the ancient prophecy of peace or succumb to chaos. Let us come together, across borders and ideologies, to build a world where prosperity is shared, where nations no longer wage war, and where humanity thrives as one.
This is not just a dream—it is a call to action. The future is in our hands.
Great article, as usual Bill. You should read my book "Vietnam Reconsidered: The War, the Times, and Why They Matter," especially Chapter 21 "The Cost of Militarism." Give me an address and I will mail you a copy. Also, you should read "The Cost of Loyalty" by Tim Bakken. I read your every message and give you the very greatest credence.
Thanks, John. Yes, I've read Tim Bakken--very good book.
Feel free to contact me at wjastore@gmail.com and I'll send you a mailing address.
Well done. This won't grow old and I fear you will be posting it in 2026, 2027 and on.
Hopefully, the nuclear modernization plan will be the first one to die.