The Military on Capitol Hill: Prospects in the Quest for Funds

Abstract

Public backing for defense expenditures is at its lowest ebb in recent history. Despite pervasive disenchantment, public knowledge about military programs remains limited and the translation of that disenchantment into effective political action even more restricted. Congressional lobbyists on both sides of military issues remain relatively ineffective. Congress, reacting to waste and poor weapons system performance, is doing an improved job of scrutinizing military programs and weeding out proven failures, but has remained impotent in canceling new programs its members consider ill advised. Overall, Congress has very little impact on military expenditure levels. Presidents regularly succeed in getting approved virtually the full range of military programs they request from Congress. During President Nixon's second term, that trend is expected to continue. While he might prefer to see his 1976 military budget rise above $100 billion, the President's greater wish to hold down taxes and total federal spending is likely to produce a 1976 military budget slightly in excess of $90 billion.