Despite being one of the world's leading economies, the United States spends more on military than many of our key allies. The Pentagon's overall military budget was $664billion in 2010. This included both the costs of operations in Iraq or Afghanistan and other national security cost. But, this budget is only one component of the total military expenditures that must be taken into account. It also includes all non-military spending of Departments of State (Homeland Security), Veterans Affairs, and other national Security agencies.
The United States spent more in defense over key allies such as Russia and Saudi Arabia historically. The Global War on Terror has caused a drastic increase in defense expenditures. This can be attributed to the increased demand for combat capabilities and new technologies.
Since the war began, the United States spent $6.4 trillion total on the war. This includes money to support operations in Afghanistan or Pakistan, and also other areas. All of this is included in the Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2018, which is estimated to be $777 billion. The military budget also includes money for other departments.
The United States spends $179 billion on its nuclear arsenal over the next three years. This includes money to develop, maintain and research the weapons. These nuclear weapons raise the risk of nuclear war, and contribute to current arms races. The Pentagon has also been working to modernize the nuclear arsenal. This will include spending $1 trillion over the next thirty years.
In addition to spending money on weapons, the United States must also reduce its civilian workforce. This means that fewer soldiers will be able to afford to live on military bases. It will also require the Pentagon to reduce its overall number of soldiers. This could lead to a loss or billions in purchasing power. Best case scenario is continued resolution. This allows the Pentagon to continue spending money at the same level it did last year. However, continuous resolution can also lead wasteful and inefficient management.
The United States has also invested billions of dollars in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. But, these investments have led to the collapse and demise of the Afghan government. The Afghanistan war has cost the United States approximately $2 trillion since 2001.
Despite this, Congress has failed to endorse a transformative 10-year package. The package would have funded climate change, children and a stronger middle-class. There are indications that policymakers are changing their approach.
There is also a need for greater transparency within the Pentagon. Pentagon has had a history of limiting access to budget plans or records. In fact, an internal study that found $125 Billion in potential savings revealed the Pentagon's need for greater transparency. However, the study was not made public because it was hidden.
The United States currently has 150 nuclear weapons. These bombs are in existence for over 20 years. They are the principal cause of today's arms race. They are also the main cause of the risk of a nuclear war.