FY2005 Defense Budget: Frequently Asked Questions

Publication Date: July 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

This report is designed to provide facts and figures about the United States defense budget in order to help answer frequently asked questions about defense spending. The answers to these questions are based on analysis of recent and historical trends in the defense budget up to and including the fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget request.

Using figures taken primarily from the White House Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2005: Historical Tables (February 2004), this report answers frequently asked questions that fall within four categories: (1) trends in defense spending over time, from World War II through OMB's FY2009 budget projections (questions 1, 2, 3, and 4); (2) the impact of defense on the economy (questions 5, 6, and 7); (3) costs of wars and supplemental appropriations (questions 8 and 9); (4) trends in force structure (questions 10, 11, and 12).

The fifth section of the report consists of additional, more general budget data tables and a glossary of frequently used budget terms.

This report will be updated as necessary.