Tag: fiscal policy
6 articles

Japan's Defense Budget Boost Sparks Quest for Efficient Spending
Japan's Ministry of Defense is shaking things up with a record-breaking 9.3 trillion yen budget request for 2027, marking a 3.8% increase and hitting the 2% GDP target ahead of schedule. This bold move signals a fresh approach to defense, dubbed a "new way of fighting".

Pentagon Obligates $142B in Reconciliation Funding, Leaves Billions at Risk of Cuts
The Pentagon has already secured a whopping $142 billion from last year's reconciliation bill, but $10 billion remains at risk of being slashed by 8.3% if not quickly obligated. Time is ticking to avoid a costly cut that could derail key modernization projects.

Australia's Disaster Resilience Plan Threatens Fiscal Burden Shift
The Australian government's Disaster Resilience Plan could significantly shift the financial burden of disaster recovery onto Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, adding to the country's already staggering $1.051 trillion federal gross debt forecast for 2026-27. This proposed 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement aims to simplify and standardize disaster funding, but may leave states and territories footing a larger bill.

Congress Averts Defense Funding Disruption
This resolution is a big win for defense, ensuring that current weapons programs stay on track and that troops and civilians get the pay they deserve. By extending funding to December 11, Congress has bought itself some time to iron out budget details and avoid a costly disruption.

House Panel Targets Defense Industrial Base in $1.15T Policy Bill
The House Armed Services Committee's draft defense policy bill aims to bolster the Defense Industrial Base, driven by a stark reality: the US no longer has the capacity to rapidly produce war-fighting capabilities at scale. A $1.15 trillion spending plan is on the table, but a separate $350 billion request remains a crucial wildcard.

Pentagon's Space Ambitions Hinge on Fiscal Maneuvers
The Pentagon's ambitious space plans are hitting a fiscal roadblock, as trillion-dollar defense budgets become the new norm, but the usual budgeting tools that make them possible are no longer reliable. Can planners find a way to reconcile ambitious new programs with an uncertain budgeting process?