Making Sense of Failures in US Defense Funding

Benjamin Giltner

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board published an opinion piece remarking on Congress’ failed attempts to fund America’s military. The article laments, among other concerns, that the war in Iran is draining US munition stockpiles. It includes a quote from General Michael Guetlein, who warns that “there is no Golden Dome” should the federal government fail to approve the money requested for the project. The Journal’s argument places the blame squarely on Congress approving too little of funds—or that’s at least what the Editorial Board wants you to think. 

In a way, the fault does belong to Congress. Policymakers create a country’s national security strategy. This requires matching military means to foreign policy goals. In truth, the real problem is America’s defense strategy: US policymakers are reaching for nonsensical goals. 

Take the Iran war. The Trump administration has yet to provide evidence that Tehran was close to building a nuclear weapon. Now the administration has shifted the war’s aims to prioritize reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Simply put, the administration has no clear objective for its war, which risks becoming endless. A forever war means that money, military equipment, and American lives could be wasted for years to come.

Another instance of federal mismanagement in national security is the Trump administration’s pursuit of the Golden Dome missile defense system. Development of such a system could stoke an arms race between the United States, Russia, and China. Any missile defense system is incapable of intercepting missiles with a 100 percent success rate. Thus, Golden Dome, if ever completed, will fail to create a foolproof shield over the American people; if anything, it could increase the odds of a preemptive attack on the United States by one of its adversaries. Golden Dome, in reality, will more than likely go the way of the Reagan administration’s “Star Wars” initiative: wasted money and resources with little benefit to US national security.

Congress and the Trump administration are not at blame for investing too little in America’s military; they are at fault for taking on too many national security projects. To quote a favorite line from the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want.” The Pentagon, Congress, and the Trump administration should keep this in mind and be more selective over what the federal government funds for defense. They can ill afford not to.