Pentagon urged to align defense budgets with economic strategy for competitive edge

The U.S. defense budget accounts for nearly half of discretionary federal spending, and its role goes beyond funding military operations. Strategic alignment between defense expenditures and economic statecraft is critical to maintaining capability dominance over high-end rivals, sources emphasize. Defense leaders are being urged to streamline priorities and enhance coordination with industry to convert America’s economic strength into operational power effectively. Stability in budgeting signal