Spending and the American Dream

Trump: Military Spending and Infrastructure

In this ongoing segment, Glasgow-based columnists Michael Burns and Alec Carmichael have agreed to square off on issues of national and international significance. Less a debate format than an opportunity to feature in-depth discussion, "Side by Side" will feature structured analysis of current events complete with fact-checking, editorial support and, when necessary, informal arbitration. To suggest a topic for our duo, write to [email protected].

Having announced his $54 billion increase in Department of Defense spending, President Trump has initiated his promise to return the American military to its glory days. To put the increase into perspective, however, the 2015 proposed budget under President Obama was $495.6 billion making the $54 billion increase just over 10 percent.

The White House announced he would seek the hike in spending on tanks, ships and weapons systems while cutting foreign aid, environmental programs and domestic agencies by the same amount. The increase to defense spending is relatively small, and is unlikely to pay for a single weapon system design or procurement. In the current world affairs it would be more forward to invest that $54 billion in intelligence, counter-terror, Islamic relations, cyber infrastructure, and securing key domestic facilities from terrorism and cyber-espionage or sabotage. The largest threat to national security presently is cyber attack and terrorism. Tanks, ships and weapons do little to counter those threats or to keep Americans safe.

A $54 billion dollar increase in intelligence collection would be a more than 100% increase to the national intelligence program whose budget in 2017 is proposed at $53.5 billion, allowing us to put more spies in troubled areas, acquire more cyber data on enemies like North Korea, and combat espionage and terrorism inside our own borders. Doubling this program would have a profound affect on national security and make a large investment in peace and prevention rather than arms race style build-ups that would only be affective against a soviet-era threat.

A simple example: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a stealth capable versatile platform for air combat missions, but it is also the most expensive platform in military history costing more than the Manhattan project even accounting for inflation. In 2015 the project was $163 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule (thank you bureaucracy). I imagine the plane will not be keeping us safe anytime soon. At the end of its procurement the device will cost the American taxpayer an estimated $1.5 trillion, a sizable windfall for relatively small Lockheed and Martin, but an obvious boondoggle for the American taxpayer. That money spent on infrastructure or intelligence could produce significant shifts in our global capabilities and economy, but I digress.

Trump’s other big announcement, and one I am excited for, is a $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Compared to his 10 percent defense increase this is a large and exciting proposal that both makes sense and an impact. Infrastructure spending is usually a strong priority for campaigns, but not an easy accomplishment for Presidents, as spending requires revenue and taxes are, shall we say... taboo. Infrastructure spending, however, is a notable way to increase the nations economy, increase jobs, grow investment and increase property values nationwide. These effects will last well beyond the President’s time in office.

A 10 percent defense increase is in reality a relatively small number to the DOD, and is unlikely to pay for a single plane, ship or tank as the President suggests. On the other hand, $54 billion on intelligence would more than double the current program rendering us more capable of preventing attacks, finding terrorist support networks and enablers, and eliminating critical threats before they even begin.

In all, Trump should prioritize intelligence and cyber-defense in the modern world and infrastructure in the American economy while maintaining the already powerful military we have acquired over the decades... just in case.