The armed forces maintain at least 135 military bands across the United States, costing nearly $450 million every year. Even stepping back from the broader debate over their usefulness, this spending should at least be reevaluated. Simply cutting by one-third could save nearly $2 billion over the next decade, for instance, while freeing up resources for national security needs.
“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."
“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."
“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."
