A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The White House made headlines recently by declaring its FY26 defense budget request would break the trillion-dollar mark, but the president’s claims don’t quite hold up to scrutiny. While the …
A Trillion-Dollar Defense Budget That Isn’t Read More
In a break from tradition, Congress passed a full-year continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2025, a move that provides new-start authority but hinders …
Congress Scales Back Ambitions in Final FY25 Defense Deal Read More
At a press event on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump hinted at a defense budget request “in the vicinity” of $1 trillion for Fiscal Year …
Trump Teases $1 Trillion Defense Budget—But What Does That Actually Mean? Read More
Momentum is growing in Washington for a year-long continuing resolution (CR) that would run through the remainder of FY25, which ends September 30. FY25 began on October 1, 2024, but …
Momentum Grows for Year-Long Continuing Resolution Read More
The Pentagon is undertaking a sweeping review of military spending that could potentially realign tens of billions of dollars per year to higher-priority programs. The effort, spearheaded by Defense Secretary …
Pentagon Launches Sweeping Defense Spending Review Read More
The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed into law in December, sidestepped calls from some lawmakers for the policy bill to increase the Pentagon’s topline budget, but the legislation …
Key Takeaways from the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act Read More
U.S. lawmakers released the final version of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this past Saturday, omitting a significant funding boost recommended by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier …
Defense Authorization Bill Abandons Senate’s Proposed Topline Increase Read More
Donald Trump’s return to the White House, coupled with Republican control of Congress, is set to reshape U.S. defense policy. While many defense modernization programs will remain on track, a …
What Trump’s Second Term Could Mean for U.S. Defense Policy Read More
Congress is at a crossroads over the FY25 defense budget. Although the Biden administration’s FY25 budget request adhered to Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) spending caps, House and Senate defense committees …
Competing Visions for the Pentagon’s FY25 Budget Read More
The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) has proposed adding $4.6 billion to the Navy’s shipbuilding budget for FY25, setting the stage for a conflict with House appropriators who recommended reducing shipbuilding …
Conflict Ahead: Senate and House at Odds Over Navy Shipbuilding Funding Read More