Representative Pat Harrigan, RN.C., comments on the need to increase American defense spending, American foreign policy and his introduction of a bill prohibiting the Pentagon from issuing mandates of COVVI-19 vaccine covers -19 without approval from the congress.
The Elon Musk Government Ministry of Effectiveness (DOGE) is preparing to make its efforts to reduce Pentagon costs, where it plans to erate unnecessary expenses in the defense budget of more than $ 800 billion .
Friday evening, DOGE announced in a position on X that he was holding a first meeting with the Ministry of Defense (DOD) while he started his work.
“A big kick -off with @Deptofdefense. I can’t wait to work together to save taxpayers’ dollars and eliminate waste, fraud and abuses,” wrote Doge.
The DOD budget is most of the federal government’s discretionary budget at $ 850 billion during the current financial year – although it is lower than compulsory programs such as social security, health insurance and the interest expenses of the national debt. This presents an important opportunity to find cost savings and ways to promote Pentagon efficiency.
The DOGE team welcomed the Pentagon but some remain skeptical
DOGE is expected to examine the budget of the Ministry of Defense. (istock)
Bryan Clark, main member and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, told Fox Business that the centralization of innovation units within the DOD could be a starting point for Doge.
Clark noted that the DOD had created “innovation cells” in the department which aim to accelerate the integration of new technologies in the agency and the army, in part by hiring technological companies
“It is very dispersed with dozens of innovation cells or organizations throughout the DOD, and it seems very ineffective. It has not given the types of delivery to the scale of new unrelated systems or AI or new weapons capacities near promises, “said Clark. “I think it will be a big target, they will say that we take all these small cottage industries throughout the DOD … and centralize an innovation effort with the Secretary of Defense.”
What NATO countries respond to the 2%defendant of defense spending?
The largest aircraft carrier in the world USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transit the Strait of Gibraltar, January 5, 2024. (US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly / Dvids / Fox News)
He also noted programs such as the F-35 Strike Fighter and the Ford class aircraft carriers which are great efforts with a high capital intensity which “could see a certain effort to evolve them or start again to release the Money that would go to new technologies.
The other emerging programs which are less established than these but which could be examined include the Constellation’s class frigate program of the Navy and the new Tiltrotor of long-range recognition of the army.
“Each of the services has white elephants which could easily be targets of DOGE and perceived as expensive tangential programs which are not necessarily assured of the basic responsibilities of the department and that money could be better spent for drones and unrelated systems and AI and other new technologies, “said Clark.
Andrill of autonomous systems and weapons announce a construction plan of massive manufacturing facilities in Ohio
The US Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps use the F-35 Lightning II, also known as Fight Fighter. ((US Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Keele / 168th Wing / Dvids) / Fox News)
Jim Fein, research assistant for national security and European affairs at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox Business that very publicized defense programs that could have cost ineffectiveness but offer critical capacities like the F-35, the Trendy bombardier B-21 Raider or Ford Transporters should not necessarily be cut. He underlined the Sentinel of the Air Force program to replace the intercontinental minuteman III (ICBM) ballistic missile as part of the nuclear triad as a similar example.
“Sentinel also comes to mind as a vital program and without making a worse situation.
“A better option than cutting or taking a break from these programs is to examine the programs individually and make them more effective. The long-term solution is to modify the cost of cost contract and more,” He declared. “Many military contracts are more costs (or work in this way), which encourages ineffectiveness within these programs because the government reimburses expenses, so that companies are not incentive to reduce a long time to manage term. “
US Iron Dome must be “much more complex” to deal with “almost threats”, says the expert
He also suggested that the DOD research and development processes which have no tangible link with improving the preparation of the military could be a target for Doge.
“There are many of what I would call” scientific experiences “which do not add or add enough value to the army. The DOD finances billions of dollars (yes, billions) in what ‘He finishes fundamental research, “a large part of which does not provide a significant advantage for the military,” said Fein.
DOD supply processes could be at the center of DOGE cost reduction efforts. (US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf / Sorlow / Dvids / Fox News)
The defense budget is traditionally one of the most deliberative and bipartite processes in Congress. The legislators adopt each year the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which establishes policies and authorizes spending, and also adopts a credit bill which provides the financing of the DOD each financial year.
Due to the congress holding the power of the handbag and the defense budget established by law, it can be difficult for the Trump administration to modify unilateral of certain programs by trying to reduce them or to reprogram the funds to another Dod activity.
Get Fox Affairs on the move by clicking here
“It really depends on the type of programmatic change and the quantity. Cancellation programs squarely may not be possible in all cases; a smaller reprogramming is much more feasible, especially for the lower profile programs with the Research and development or programs at their previous steps, “said Fein.
