The Biden administration’s defense budget request is $715 billion. In constant dollars, that’s more than the Pentagon spent during the military buildup of the 1980s, but the size and capability of the force is far less today.
- MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), chief executive officer of The Punaro Group and retired Major General in the Marine Corps, said Congress and the Defense Department must focus on getting the most bang for the buck in defense spending, as China continues to advance its military capabilities and technology.
- Punaro said there must be a reduction in Defense Department overhead, which has increased from 5% to around 20% of the budget.
- Punaro said there is bipartisan recognition in Congress and from the Biden administration that China is the pacing threat.
