The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Budget Supplemental Would Mean More Wasteful Defense Spending
English Summary
CATO argues that the proposed defense supplemental budget represents wasteful and unnecessary spending, largely driven by reactive measures related to the war in Iran. The article highlights that significant portions of this funding are dedicated to operational expenses and resupplying depleted munitions inventories. Furthermore, it notes that actual military outlays are consistently underreported because multiple agencies contribute funds outside the Department of Defense. Consequently, the continuous expansion of defense spending is deemed fiscally irresponsible, adding billions to an already excessive budget without providing clear benefits to American taxpayers.
中文摘要
CATO主張，擬議的國防補充預算代表著浪費且不必要的開支，其主要驅動因素是與伊朗戰爭相關的應對性措施。本文指出，這筆資金的大部分用於作戰費用和補充耗盡的彈藥庫存。此外，文章還提到，由於多個機構除了國防部之外也提供了資金，導致實際軍事支出經常被低報。因此，持續擴大國防開支被認為是財政上不負責任的行為，在沒有為美國納稅人提供明確利益的情況下，增加了數十億美元到本已過高的預算中。
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