The Problem:
waste straining readiness

"We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security."

~President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Solutions:
Bipartisan Options for Reform

"We want the best equipment but we want it built ahead of schedule and we want it built under budget."

~President Donald J. Trump


About Strong America

Our nation is at a crossroads. We face unprecedented economic strain brought on by years of deficit spending, yet the vast majority of the federal budget is off the table for any trimming. In a complex world, rather than strategic decision-making based on prudence, budgeting is carried out from fruitless standoff to standoff.

This status quo has harmed readiness and carries very real consequences for our armed forces. This guide is intended to serve as a starting point toward achieving the tradeoffs necessary to pursue a modern, effective foreign policy in a fiscally sustainable manner.

One does not have to accept all or even a majority of the suggestions, nor subscribe to a certain strategy, foreign policy, or preferred top-line to use this guide. Our goal is simply to offer options in a world of limited resources. The era of the “cheap hawk” is not over.


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    “If we are going to effectively tackle the long-term national security threat posed by our national debt, then we need to seriously examine how our defense dollars are being spent. Waste and inefficiency within the Pentagon not only contributes to our nation’s debt and deficit, it also diminishes the effectiveness of our nation’s armed forces."

    Dan Caldwell, USMC (ret.)
    Concerned Veterans for America
    Dan Caldwell, USMC (ret.)
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    “I'm concerned that our increasing fractious political process, particularly with respect to federal spending, is threatening our ability to properly defend our nation both in the short term and especially in the long term."

    Dan Coats
    Director of National Intelligence
    Dan Coats
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    “This guide is a much-needed first step toward encouraging politicians to consider all available options for substantive Pentagon reform. Our troops deserve better than broken bureaucracy, and politicians shouldn't fool themselves into thinking that throwing money at the problem is the solution."

    Capt. Dan Grazier, USMC (ret.)
    Project on Government Oversight
    Capt. Dan Grazier, USMC (ret.)