As the Pentagon attempts to refocus the U.S. military strategy toward Asia, the department is facing major budget constraints. Experts disagree on how to balance the fiscal challenge with the country's national security priorities.

The U.S. Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG) reflects the reality that offshore balancing has jumped from the cloistered walls of academe to the real world of Washington policymaking, says Christopher Layne.

This brief by Anthony H. Cordesman analyzes the pattern of cuts in recent, ongoing, and possible future defense and national security spending that affects the U.S. and its ability to project power and aid its friends and allies.

The Department of State's Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance published its "29^th edition of the State Department's World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT) report, covering the years 1995-2005". It includes "six years of data (2000-2005) not included in any previously published edition."

Frank G. Klotz argues that the United States has important national interests in Antarctica, and these interests must be fully understood and carefully considered, especially as the federal government looks for ways to reduce the deficit.

Peter Orszag questions whether the U.S. military budget cuts outlined by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will be fully implemented.

The Pentagon's strategic review sets the stage for a new era of restraint in U.S. military spending and a focus on priorities in Asia. CFR's Richard K. Betts and Max Boot discuss the challenges facing the U.S. military and the implications for U.S. defense policy.

Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellows Richard Betts and Max Boot join Staff Writer Jonathan Masters in a discussion of the Department of Defense's recent strategic review, military spending, and U.S. defense strategy.

Max Boot argues that the current plan to downsize the U.S. military is a repeat of past mistakes.

Max Boot argues that cuts to defense spending have the potential to devastate the U.S. armed forces, and if left unchecked, will do more damage to their fighting capacity than the Taliban, al-Qaeda, or any other external foe could inflict.

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (H.R. 2055), an omnibus spending bill, was approved by the House on December 16, 2011. It awaits a vote by the Senate. Passage of the bill would avert a government shutdown and would fund many federal government entities through September 2012.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012 (HR 1540), authorizes "appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes." It received final approval on December 15, 2011.

Congressman Barney Frank discusses the Obama administration's strategy and current level of spending on national defense.

Lawmakers are considering sharp cuts to defense spending as part of mandated deficit-reduction efforts. This Backgrounder discusses the effects of such major cuts and implications for U.S. military strategy.

General James Amos discusses the future role of the Marines in post-Afghanistan national security strategy.

House Armed Services Committee Republican staff members sent this memo regarding their assessment of the impacts of budget cuts to Chairman Howard McKeon on September 22, 2011.

In his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Max Boot argues that the impact of budget cuts has the potential to devastate our armed forces and do more damage to their fighting capacity than any other external foe.

As partisan wrangling over the U.S. debt ceiling continues in Washington, fears are mounting that a default could trigger another global economic crisis. This guide offers timely analysis on the global implications of the U.S. debt crisis.

Defense-spending cuts should be a big part of a deficit reduction deal, says CFR's Richard Betts, with the Pentagon pursuing a budget that reflects a reduced threat environment and limits the production of expensive, state-of-the-art equipment.

The defense budget is at an inflection point. For the first time in more than a decade, both the base budget and war budget are declining. This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed overview of the 2012 Defense budget request as well as existing proposals to reduce the Pentagon's budget.