United States Department of Defense

{{Short description|Executive department of the US federal government}} {{Redirect|DoD|3=DOD (disambiguation) {{!}} DOD}} {{pp-protected|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=August 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}   {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = United States Department of Defense | native_name = | seal = {{Switcher |175px|Alternative seal of the United States Department of Defense, depicting an American Eagle holding three arrows, superimposed by the shield adorned with the design of the American flag. Below is the green wreath. Rind reads "DEPARTMENT OF WAR" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". |Department of War|default=1 |175px|alt=Seal of the United States Department of Defense, depicting an American Eagle holding three arrows, superimposed by the shield adorned with the design of the American flag. Below is the green wreath. Rind reads "DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". |Department of Defense }} | seal_width = 175 | seal_caption = Seal of the Department of Defense{{efn|name=exec-order-14347|In September 2025, Executive Order 14347 authorized the usage of "Department of War" as a secondary name, which is now preferred by the department.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 September 2025 |title=Restoring the United States Department of War |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/10/2025-17508/restoring-the-united-states-department-of-war |access-date=19 October 2025 |website=Federal Register |archive-date=21 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251221084845/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/10/2025-17508/restoring-the-united-states-department-of-war |url-status=live }}</ref> "Department of Defense" remains the statutory name. The secretary of defense may institute a new seal with the approval of the president, without Congress's approval.<ref>{{usc|10|112}}</ref>}} | logo = {{Switcher |250px |Department of War|default=1 |250px |Department of Defense }} | logo_width = 250 | logo_caption = Logo of the Department of Defense{{efn|name=exec-order-14347}} | picture = An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023.jpg | picture_caption = An aerial view of the Pentagon | formed = {{start date and age|1947|9|18|df=y}} (as National Military Establishment) | preceding1 = Department of War | preceding2 = Department of the Navy | agency_type = Executive department | jurisdiction = U.S. federal government | headquarters = The Pentagon<br />Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|38|52|16|N|77|3|21|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}} | employees = {{ubl|789,594 (civilian)<ref name="workforce">{{cite web |title=DoD Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications|url=https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports |date=30 June 2024 |publisher=Defense Manpower Data Center |access-date=20 January 2025 |archive-date=3 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103152017/https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports |url-status=live }}</ref>|1,294,191 (active duty military)|761,601 (National Guard and reserve)| 2,845,386 total (30 June 2024)}} | budget = $842 billion FY2024 | chief1_name = Pete Hegseth | chief1_position = Secretary | chief2_name = Steve Feinberg | chief2_position = Deputy Secretary | chief3_name = Dan Caine | chief3_position = Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | chief4_name = Christopher Mahoney | chief4_position = Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | chief5_name = | chief5_position = | chief6_name = | chief6_position = | chief7_name = | chief7_position = | chief8_name = | chief8_position = | chief9_name = | chief9_position = | parent_department = | child1_agency = Department of the Army | child2_agency = Department of the Navy | child3_agency = Department of the Air Force | child4_agency = National Security Agency | child5_agency = Defense Intelligence Agency | child6_agency = National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | child7_agency = National Reconnaissance Office | website = {{Official URL}} }} {{United States Armed Forces sidebar}}

The '''United States Department of Defense''' ('''DoD'''),<ref>{{cite web |title=Manual for Written Material |url=http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/dodd/corres/pdf/51104m_030204/p51104m.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829163034/http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/dodd/corres/pdf/51104m_030204/p51104m.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2004 |access-date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Department of Defense |page=9 }}</ref> also referred to as the '''Department of War''' ('''DoW'''),{{efn|name=exec-order-14347}} is an executive department of the United States federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the United States Armed Forces—the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and, for some purposes, the Coast Guard—and related functions and agencies. Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., the stated mission of the Department of Defense is "to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/our-story/ |title=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Our Story |website=United States Department of Defense |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223518/https://www.defense.gov/our-story/ |archive-date=7 October 2018 |access-date=17 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/pentagon-mission/ |title=Trump's Pentagon Quietly Made a Change to the Stated Mission It's Had for Two Decades |last=Szoldra |first=Paul |date=29 June 2018 |work=Task & Purpose |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-date=30 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630143357/https://taskandpurpose.com/pentagon-mission/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Department of Defense is headed by the secretary of defense, a cabinet-level official who reports directly to the president of the United States. The president is commander-in-chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. Within the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments: the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force. In addition, four national intelligence services are part of the Department of Defense: the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency (NSA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and National Reconnaissance Office.

Other agencies in the Department of Defense include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Logistics Agency, Missile Defense Agency, Defense Health Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Space Development Agency and Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Additionally, the Defense Contract Management Agency is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of Defense. Military operations are managed by eleven regional or functional unified combatant commands. The Department of Defense also operates several joint services schools, including the Eisenhower School and the National War College.

{{As of|2022|11|post=,}} the department has over 1.4 million active-duty uniformed personnel in the six armed services,<ref>{{cite web |date=11 November 2022 |title=The World's Biggest Employers |url=https://www.statista.com/chart/3585/the-worlds-biggest-employers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408133455/https://www.statista.com/chart/3585/the-worlds-biggest-employers/ |archive-date=8 April 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=Statista}}</ref> and over 747,000 civilian employees. It also supervises over 778,000 National Guard and reservist personnel.<ref name="workforce" />

== History == {{Further|Military history of the United States}} {{See also|National Security Act of 1947}}

Faced with rising tensions between the Thirteen Colonies and the British government, one of the first actions taken by the First Continental Congress in September 1774 was to recommend that the colonies begin defensive military preparations. In mid-June 1775, after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress, recognizing the necessity of having a national army that could move about and fight beyond the boundaries of any particular colony, organized the Continental Army on 14 June 1775.<ref>{{cite book |title=For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012 |last1=Millett |first1=Allan R. |last2=Maslowski |first2=Peter |last3=Feis |first3=William B. |edition=3rd |year=2012 |orig-year=1984 |isbn=978-1451623536 |publisher=The Free Press (a division of Simon & Schuster) |chapter=The American Revolution, 1763–1783}}</ref><ref name="June 14">{{cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |title=June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |date=14 June 2012 |access-date=19 June 2014 |author=Maass, John R. |archive-date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001214256/https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that year, Congress would charter the Continental Navy on 13 October,<ref name="Navy Birthday">{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |title=Navy Birthday Information – October 13, 1775 |access-date=19 June 2014 |author=Naval History and Heritage Command |archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101222021/http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Continental Marines on 10 November.

=== War Department and Navy Department === {{Main|United States Department of War|United States Department of the Navy}}

Upon the seating of the 1st U.S. Congress on 4 March 1789, legislation to create a military defense force stagnated as they focused on other concerns relevant to setting up the new government. President George Washington went to Congress to remind them of their duty to establish a military twice during this time. Finally, on the last day of the session, 29 September 1789, Congress created the War Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_army_1.html |title=Congress Officially Created the U.S. Military: September 29, 1789 |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=20 June 2014 |archive-date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003123444/http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_army_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://legisworks.org/sal/1/stats/STATUTE-1-Pg95b.pdf |title=Statutes at Large, Session I, Charter XXV |editor=Joe Carmel |date=n.d. |orig-year=Original Statute 1789 |website=Legisworks |access-date=28 January 2018 |quote=An Act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525180057/http://legisworks.org/sal/1/stats/STATUTE-1-Pg95b.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The War Department handled naval affairs until Congress created the Navy Department in 1798. The secretaries of each department reported directly to the president as cabinet-level advisors until 1949, when all military departments became subordinate to the Secretary of Defense.

=== National Military Establishment === thumb|Seal of the Department of Defense with its statutory name [[File:Photograph of President Truman at his desk in the Oval Office, signing the National Security Act Amendments of 1949... - NARA - 200168.jpg|thumb|President Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment of 1949]]

After the end of World War II, President Harry Truman proposed the creation of a unified department of national defense. In a special message to the Congress on 19 December 1945, the president cited wasteful military spending and interdepartmental conflicts. Deliberations in Congress went on for months focusing heavily on the role of the military in society and the threat of granting too much military power to the executive.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hogan |first=Michael J. |title=A cross of iron: Harry S. Truman and the origins of the national security state, 1945–1954 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2000 |isbn=978-0-521-79537-1 |pages=37–38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hd4C3cY7Y7IC&pg=PA37 |archive-date=25 December 2024 |access-date=5 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225043905/https://books.google.com/books?pg=PA37&id=Hd4C3cY7Y7IC |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 July 1947, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which "unified the Army and Navy within a single organization, the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Conway-Lanz |first=Sahr |title=Collateral damage: Americans, noncombatant immunity, and atrocity after World War II |date=2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-97828-6 |location=New York |pages=24}}</ref> It established the National Military Establishment (NME) and created the National Security Council, National Security Resources Board, United States Air Force, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The NME was placed under the control of the new post of secretary of defense.{{sfn|Polmar|2005|page=17}}<ref name="nibley">{{cite web|url=https://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571293/james-v-forrestal/ |title=James V. Forrestal, Harry S. Truman Administration |website=Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense |publisher=Office of the Secretary of Defense |access-date=25 July 2017 |archive-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814095106/http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571293/james-v-forrestal/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Bolton, M. Kent |title=U.S. national security and foreign policymaking after 9/11: present at the re-creation |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2008|isbn=978-0-7425-5900-4|page=3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IETboc9ajpQC&pg=PA3}}</ref>

The National Military Establishment formally began operations on 18 September, the day after the Senate confirmed James V. Forrestal as the first secretary of defense.<ref name="nibley" /> The National Military Establishment was renamed the "Department of Defense" on 10 August 1949, and absorbed the three cabinet-level military departments, in an amendment to the original 1947 law.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |author=Rearden, Steven L. |chapter=Department of Defense |editor=DeConde, Alexander |title=Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, Volume 1 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-684-80657-0|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7dG-pVarDAC&pg=PA439|display-editors=etal|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofam03deco}}</ref>

Under the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 ({{USPL|85|599}}), channels of authority within the department were streamlined while still maintaining the ordinary jurisdiction of the Military Departments to organize, train, and equip their associated forces. The Act clarified the overall decision-making authority of the secretary of defense concerning these subordinate military departments. It more clearly defined the operational chain of command over U.S. military forces (created by the military departments) as running from the president to the secretary of defense, the service chief of the unified combatant commanders, and then to the unified combatant commanders.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 January 2022 |title=The Unified Combatant Command System |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Expeditions-with-MCUP-digital-journal/The-Unified-Combatant-Command-System/ |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=USMCU.edu |archive-date=20 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820114638/https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Expeditions-with-MCUP-digital-journal/The-Unified-Combatant-Command-System/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also provided in this legislation was a centralized research authority, the Advanced Research Projects Agency, eventually known as DARPA. The act was written and promoted by the Eisenhower administration and was signed into law on 6 August 1958.

=== Name === By the National Security Act of 1947, the Department of the Navy and the Department of War<ref>{{cite web |title=The Establishment of the Department of War |publisher=US House of Representatives |website=History, Art & Archives |url=http://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35480 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013034/http://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35480 |url-status=live }}</ref> had a new single Secretary imposed over the top of their two previously independent Cabinet secretaries. The War Department also changed its name to the Department of the Army and split off the Department of the Air Force. The new Cabinet-level department was initially designated the National Military Establishment (NME). On 10 August 1949, the National Security Act of 1947 was amended; the amendment renamed the NME the Department of Defense. The renaming is alleged to be due to the NME's pronunciation as "enemy".<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of Defense. (09/18/1947 - ) |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10455766 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113131311/https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10455766 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=National Archives NextGen Catalog}}</ref>

Four people told the ''New York Times'' that Anduril Industries co-founder Palmer Luckey suggested to president-elect Donald Trump, before his second inauguration, that he change the name to the "Department of War".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frenkel |first=Sheera |last2=Metz |first2=Cade |date=February 2, 2026 |title=The Pentagon's Favorite Tech Guy Is This Hawaiian Shirt-Wearing Founder |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/technology/pentagon-anduril-palmer-luckey.html |access-date=February 2, 2026 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> On 5 September 2025, Trump signed an executive order authorizing "Department of War" and "secretary of war" as secondary titles to the main titles of "Department of Defense" and "secretary of defense". The terms must be accommodated by federal agencies and are permitted in executive branch communications, ceremonial settings, and non-statutory documents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Meghann |date=2026-04-07 |title=Pentagon investigators blocked from using 'War Department' in official documents |url=https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/04/pentagon-guidance-lays-out-limits-department-war-title/412676/ |website=Defense One |language=en |access-date=9 April 2026 |archive-date=8 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260408065623/https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/04/pentagon-guidance-lays-out-limits-department-war-title/412676/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, only an act of Congress can legally and formally change the department's name and secretary's title, so "Department of Defense" and "secretary of defense" remain legally official.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 September 2025 |title=Trump to sign executive order renaming Defense to Department of War |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-war-defense/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |archive-date=4 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250904231427/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-war-defense/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=5 September 2025 |title=Trump order will rebrand Defense Department as Department of War |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-executive-order-rebranding-defense-department-war-department-rcna229217 |access-date=5 September 2025 |publisher=NBC News |archive-date=5 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250905001734/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-executive-order-rebranding-defense-department-war-department-rcna229217 |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump described his rebranding as an effort to project a stronger and more bellicose name and said the "defense" names were "woke".<ref>{{cite news |last=Egwuonwu |first=Nnamdi |date=5 September 2025 |title=Trump signs executive order rebranding Defense Department as Department of War |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-executive-order-rebrands-defense-department-war-department-rcna229461 |access-date=6 September 2025 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130161114/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-executive-order-rebrands-defense-department-war-department-rcna229461 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the change of name could cost between $10 million and $125 million, depending on the depth of implementation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Congressional Budget Office |date=14 January 2026 |title=The Costs of Using the Name "Department of War" |url=https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61942 |website=CBO.gov |access-date=14 April 2026 |archive-date=10 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310094213/https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61942 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Organizational structure == {{Main|Organizational structure of the United States Department of Defense}}

{{See also|List of Department of Defense agencies}} thumb|Organization of the Department of Defense following the creation of the United States Space Force thumb|A December 2013 Department of Defense organizational chart The secretary of defense, appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate, is by federal law ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|113}}) the head of the Department of Defense, "the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to Department of Defense", and has "authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense". Because the Constitution vests all military authority in Congress and the president, the statutory authority of the secretary of defense is derived from their constitutional authority. Since it is impractical for either Congress or the president to participate in every piece of Department of Defense affairs, the secretary of defense and the secretary's subordinate officials generally exercise military authority.

The Department of Defense is composed of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Staff, Office of the Inspector General, Combatant Commands, Military Departments (Department of the Army, Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force), Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities, National Guard Bureau, and such other offices, agencies, activities, organizations, and commands established or designated by law, or by the president or by the secretary of defense. Department of Defense Directive 5100.01 describes the organizational relationships within the department and is the foundational issuance for delineating the major functions of the department. The latest version, signed by then–secretary of defense Robert Gates in December 2010, is the first major re-write since 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://odam.defense.gov/omp/Functions/Organizational_Portfolios/Evolution%20of%205100.1.html |title=Organizational and Management Planning |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=15 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507124537/http://odam.defense.gov/omp/Functions/Organizational_Portfolios/Evolution%20of%205100.1.html |archive-date=7 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510001p.pdf |title=Directives Division |website=www.dtic.mil |access-date=3 May 2012 |archive-date=25 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525175933/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510001p.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Office of the Secretary of Defense === {{Main|Office of the Secretary of Defense}}

thumb|right|A 2008 Office of the Secretary of Defense organizational chart The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is the secretary and their deputies, including predominantly civilian staff. OSD is the principal staff element of the Secretary of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal and program evaluation and oversight, and interface and exchange with other U.S. federal government departments and agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations, through formal and informal processes. OSD also performs oversight and management of the Defense Agencies, Department of Defense Field Activities, and specialized Cross Functional Teams.

==== Defense agencies ==== {{see also|Combat support agency}} OSD is a parent agency of the following defense agencies: {{Columns-list| *Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute *Department of Defense Education Activity *Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency *Defense Commissary Agency *Defense Contract Audit Agency *Defense Contract Management Agency *Defense Finance and Accounting Service *Defense Health Agency *Defense Information Systems Agency *Defense Legal Services Agency *Defense Logistics Agency *Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency *Defense Security Cooperation Agency *Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency *Defense Technical Information Center *Defense Threat Reduction Agency *Space Development Agency }}

==== National intelligence agencies ==== Several defense agencies are members of the United States Intelligence Community. These are national-level intelligence services that operate under the Department of Defense jurisdiction but simultaneously fall under the authorities of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. They fulfill the requirements of national policymakers and war planners, serve as Combat Support Agencies, and also assist and deploy alongside non-Department of Defense intelligence or law enforcement services such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The military services each have their intelligence elements that are distinct from but subject to coordination by national intelligence agencies under the Department of Defense. Department of Defense manages the nation's coordinating authorities and assets in disciplines of signals intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and measurement and signature intelligence, and also builds, launches, and operates the Intelligence Community's satellite assets. Department of Defense also has its own human intelligence service, which contributes to the CIA's human intelligence efforts while also focusing on military human intelligence priorities. These agencies are directly overseen by the under secretary of defense for intelligence and security.

<gallery class="center" caption="National Intelligence Agencies under the Department of Defense"> File:US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) seal (vector).svg|Defense Intelligence Agency File:US-NationalGeospatialIntelligenceAgency-2008Seal.svg|National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency File:US-NationalReconnaissanceOffice-Seal.svg|National Reconnaissance Office File:National Security Agency.svg|National Security Agency </gallery>

=== Joint Chiefs of Staff === {{Main|Joint Chiefs of Staff}}

[[File:The Joint Staff Org Chart.jpg|thumb|Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Staff organizational chart]] The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the Department of Defense who advise the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the president on military matters. The composition of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is defined by statute and consists of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, the Military Service chiefs from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force, in addition to the chief of National Guard Bureau, all appointed by the president following U.S. Senate confirmation.<ref>[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/151-] 10 USC 151. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions</ref> Each of the individual military service chiefs, outside their Joint Chiefs of Staff obligations, works directly for the secretary of the military department concerned: the secretary of the Army, secretary of the Navy, and secretary of the Air Force.<ref>10 U.S.C. [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C305.txt § 3033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222246/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C305.txt |date=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>10 U.S.C. [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C505.txt § 5033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222228/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C505.txt |date=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>10 U.S.C. [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C506.txt § 5043] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222221/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C506.txt |date=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>10 U.S.C. [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C805.txt § 8033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222221/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C805.txt |date=12 March 2013 }}</ref>

Following the Goldwater–Nichols Act in 1986, the Joint Chiefs of Staff no longer maintained operational command authority individually or collectively. The act designated the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) as the "principal military adviser to the president, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense".<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 151(b)(1) – Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/151 |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |archive-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119090501/http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00000151----000-.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The remaining Joint Chiefs of Staff may only have their advice relayed to the president, National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the secretary of defense after submitting it to the CJCS. By law, the chairman has to present that advice whenever he is presenting his own.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 151 – Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/151 |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |archive-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119090501/http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00000151----000-.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The chain of command goes from the president to the secretary of defense to the commanders of the Combatant Commands.<ref>10 U.S.C. [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C6.txt § 162(b)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529014041/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C6.txt |date=29 May 2013}}</ref> Goldwater–Nichols also created the office of vice-chairman, and the chairman is now designated as the ''principal military adviser'' to the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and to the president.<ref>10 U.S.C [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt § 151(b)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222255/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt|date=12 March 2013}}</ref>

The Joint Staff is a headquarters staff at the Pentagon made up of personnel from all five services that assist the chairman and vice chairman in discharging their duties. It is managed by the director of the Joint Staff who is a lieutenant general or vice admiral.<ref>10 U.S.C [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt § 155] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222255/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt|date=12 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Military departments and services === There are three military departments within the Department of Defense: # the Department of the Army, within which the United States Army is organized. # the Department of the Navy, within which the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps are organized. # the Department of the Air Force, within which the United States Air Force and United States Space Force are organized.

The military departments are each headed by their secretary (i.e., Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of the Air Force), appointed by the president, with the advice and consent of the Senate. They have the legal authority under Title 10 of the United States Code to conduct all the affairs of their respective departments within which the military services are organized.<ref>{{UnitedStatesCode|10|3013}}, {{UnitedStatesCode|10|5013}} and {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}</ref> The secretaries of the military departments are (by law) subordinate to the secretary of defense and (by SecDef delegation) to the deputy secretary of defense.

Secretaries of military departments, in turn, normally exercise authority over their forces by delegation through their respective service chiefs (i.e., Chief of Staff of the Army, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Chief of Space Operations) over forces not assigned to a Combatant Command.{{sfn|Polmar|2005|page=20}}

Military departments are tasked solely with "the training, provision of equipment, and administration of troops".{{sfn|Polmar|2005|page=20}} The Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 removed the power of command over troops from secretaries of military departments and service chiefs. <gallery class="center" caption="Military departments of the Department of Defense"> File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|Department of the Army File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|Department of the Navy File:Seal of the US Air Force.svg|Department of the Air Force </gallery>

<gallery class="center" caption="Military services of the Department of Defense"> File:Mark of the United States Army.svg|U.S. Army File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg|U.S. Marine Corps File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg|U.S. Navy File:Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg|U.S. Air Force File:Seal of the United States Space Force.svg|U.S. Space Force </gallery>

=== Unified Combatant Commands === {{Main|Unified combatant command}}

A unified combatant command is a military command composed of personnel/equipment from at least two Military Departments, which has a broad, continuing mission.{{sfn|Whitley|2009|page=44}} They are responsible for the operational command of forces. Almost all operational U.S. forces are under the authority of a Unified Command.{{sfn|Polmar|2005|page=20}} The DoD Unified Command Plan lays out combatant commands' missions, geographical/functional responsibilities, and force structure.{{sfn|Whitley|2009|page=44}}

During military operations, the chain of command runs from the president to the secretary of defense to the combatant commanders of the Combatant Commands.{{sfn|Polmar|2005|page=20}}

{{As of|2019}}, the United States has eleven Combatant Commands, organized either on a geographical basis (known as "area of responsibility", AOR) or on a global, functional basis:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Combatant-Commands/ |title=Combatant Commands |website=US Department of Defense |access-date=14 January 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117001237/https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Combatant-Commands/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) *U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) *U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) *U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) *U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) *U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) *U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) *U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) *U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) *U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) *U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)

== Budget == {{Main|Military budget of the United States}}

[[File:Defense Spending as a Percent of GDP.png|thumb|Defense spending as a percent of gross domestic product from 1792 to 2017]] thumb|Total United States Defense outlays from 1962 to 2024 in $millions (2019 to 2024 are estimated) Department of Defense spending in 2017 was 3.15% of GDP and accounted for about 38% of the budgeted global military spending – more than the next seven largest militaries combined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS |title=Military expenditure (% of GDP). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament, and International Security. |website=World Bank |access-date=8 March 2019 |archive-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425022456/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2019, the 27th secretary of defense had begun a line-by-line review of the defense budget; in 2020 the secretary identified items amounting to $5.7 billion, out of a $106 billion subtotal (the so-called "fourth estate" agencies such as missile defense, and defense intelligence, amounting to 16% of the defense budget),<ref name= mcleary2020 /><ref name="eaglen">{{cite web|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/is-army-richest-service-navy-air-force-aeis-eaglen-peels-back-budget-onion/ |title=Mackenzie Eaglen (05 February 2020) Is Army Richest Service? Navy? Air Force? AEI's Eaglen Peels Back Budget Onion |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=6 February 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206092123/https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/is-army-richest-service-navy-air-force-aeis-eaglen-peels-back-budget-onion/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He will re-deploy to the modernization of hypersonics, artificial intelligence, and missile defense.<ref name= mcleary2020 >{{cite web |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/secdefs-review-is-in-and-hes-willing-to-shut-down-entire-offices/ |title=Paul McLeary (5 February 2020) SecDef Eyeing Moving Billions By Eliminating Offices, Legacy Systems |date=6 February 2020 |access-date=6 February 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206092009/https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/secdefs-review-is-in-and-hes-willing-to-shut-down-entire-offices/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Beyond 2021 the 27th secretary of defense is projecting the need for yearly budget increases of 3 to 5 percent to modernize.<ref name="Chogath Kog'sante">{{cite web |url= https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-09/56526-FYDP.pdf |title= Long-Term Implications of the 2021 Future Years Defense Program |author= David Arthur and F. Matthew Woodward |date= March 2020 |publisher= Congressional Budget Office |access-date=9 January 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250330205740/https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-09/56526-FYDP.pdf |archive-date=30 March 2025 }}</ref>

The Department of Defense accounts for the majority of federal discretionary spending. In FY2017 (U.S. fiscal year 2017), the Department of Defense budgeted spending accounted for 15% of the U.S. federal budget, and 49% of federal discretionary spending, which represents funds not accounted for by pre-existing obligations. However, this does not include many military-related expenses that fall outside the Department of Defense budget, such as nuclear weapons research, production, maintenance, and cleanup, which are covered in the Department of Energy budget; Veterans Affairs expenses; payments from the Treasury Department for military retirees, widows, and their families; interest on debts incurred from past wars; or State Department financing for foreign arms sales and military-related development assistance. Additionally, it does not account for defense spending outside of military operations, including expenditures by the Department of Homeland Security, counter-terrorism funding by the FBI, and intelligence-gathering spending by the NSA.

In the 2010 United States federal budget, the Department of Defense was allocated a base budget of $533.7 billion, with a further $75.5 billion adjustment in respect of 2009, and $130 billion for overseas contingencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |title=United States Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 (''vid.'' p.53) |publisher=Government Printing Office |access-date=9 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205005029/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2011}}</ref> The subsequent 2010 Department of Defense Financial Report shows the total budgetary resources for FY2010 were $1.2 trillion.<ref name="DoD FR 25">{{cite web|url=http://comptroller.defense.gov/cfs/fy2010/01_DoD_Agency-Wide/Fiscal_Year_2010_DoD_Agencywide_Agency%20Financial%20Report.pdf |title=FY 2010 DoD Agencywide Agency Financial Report (''vid.'' p.25) |publisher=US Department of Defense |access-date=7 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214071610/http://comptroller.defense.gov/cfs/fy2010/01_DoD_Agency-Wide/Fiscal_Year_2010_DoD_Agencywide_Agency%20Financial%20Report.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2010}}</ref> Of these resources, $1.1 trillion were obligated and $994 billion were disbursed, with the remaining resources relating to multi-year modernization projects requiring additional time to procure.<ref name="DoD FR 25" /> After over a decade of non-compliance, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Congress established a deadline of FY2017 for the Department of Defense to achieve audit readiness,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fiar/FIAR_Plan_May_2011.pdf |title=Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) Plan Status Report |publisher=Comptroller, Department of Defense |access-date=6 September 2016 |archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429225208/https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fiar/FIAR_Plan_May_2011.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> although this did not end up occurring.

In 2015 the allocation for the Department of Defense was $585 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Current & Future Defense Capabilities of the U.S. |url=http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |website=UTEP |access-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802225421/http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |archive-date=2 August 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the highest level of budgetary resources among all federal agencies, and this amounts to more than one-half of the annual federal expenditures in the United States federal budget discretionary budget.<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go|url=https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |website=National Priorities Project |access-date=18 August 2015 |archive-date=14 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814004718/https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 September 2018, President Donald Trump signed the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.R.6157) into law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6157/titles |title=Titles – H.R.6157 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 |last=Granger |first=Kay |date=28 September 2018 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030233/https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6157/titles |url-status=live }}</ref> On 30 September 2018, the FY2018 Budget expired and the FY2019 budget came into effect.

=== FY2019 === The FY2019 Budget for the Department of Defense is approximately $686,074,048,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/defbudget/fy2019/fy19_green_book.pdf |title=FY 2019 PB Green Book |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-date=13 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213083455/https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2019/FY19_Green_Book.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> (including Base + Overseas Contingency Operations + Emergency Funds) in discretionary spending and $8,992,000,000 in mandatory spending totaling $695,066,000,000.

Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller) David L. Norquist said in a hearing regarding the FY 2019 budget: "The overall number you often hear is $716 billion. That is the amount of funding for national defense, the accounting code is 050 and includes more than simply the Department of Defense. It includes, for example, the Department of Energy and others. That large a number, if you back out the $30 billion for non-defense agencies, you get to $686 billion. That is the funding for the Department of Defense, split between $617 billion in base and $69 billion in overseas contingency".<ref name="fy2019GreenBook">DoD Comptroller [https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/defbudget/fy2019/fy19_green_book.pdf (2019) Overview – National Defense Budget Estimates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801012003/https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/defbudget/fy2019/fy19_green_book.pdf |date=1 August 2025 }} FY 2019 PB Green Book</ref>

The Department of Defense budget encompasses the majority of the National Defense Budget of approximately $716.0 billion in discretionary spending and $10.8 billion in mandatory spending for a $726.8 billion total. Of the total, $708.1 billion falls under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Armed Services and Senate Armed Services Committee and is subject to authorization by the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The remaining $7.9 billion falls under the jurisdiction of other congressional committees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/IF10887.pdf |title=The FY2019 Defense Budget Request: An Overview |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411214142/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/IF10887.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Department of Defense is unique because it is one of the few federal entities where the majority of its funding falls into the discretionary category. The majority of the entire federal budget is mandatory, and much of the discretionary funding in the budget consists of DoD dollars.

==== Budget overview ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:right" |+DoD base + OCO + Emergency budget by appropriation title<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2019/FY2019_Budget_Request_Overview_Book.pdf |title=FY2019 Budget Request Overview Book.pdf |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030111707/https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2018_07/20180709_180710-pr2018-91-en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| FY 2019 ($ in thousands)* |- !scope="row"| Military personnel | $152,883,052 |- !scope="row"| Operation and maintenance | $283,544,068 |- !scope="row"| Procurement | $144,340,905 |- !scope="row"| RDT&E | $92,364,681 |- !scope="row"| Revolving and management funds | $1,557,305 |-style="font-weight:bold;" !scope="row"| '''Defense bill''' | $674,690,011 |- !scope="row"| Military construction | $9,801,405 |- !scope="row"| Family housing | $1,582,632 |-style="font-weight:bold;" !scope="row"| '''Military construction bill''' | $11,384,037 |-style="font-weight:bold; text-decoration:solid underline" !scope="row"| '''Total''' | $686,074,048 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> Numbers may not add due to rounding

=== FY2024 === {{As of|2023|03|10}} the FY2024 presidential budget request was $842{{nbsp}}billion.{{efn|name="FY2024Agreement" |The Senate agreed to the debt ceiling arrangement for 2023–2025 on 2 June 2023.<ref name="ppbe24">Ashley Roque [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/white-house-requests-842-billion-to-fund-pentagon-in-2024/ (10 March 2023) White House requests $842 billion to fund Pentagon in 2024] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221039/https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/white-house-requests-842-billion-to-fund-pentagon-in-2024/ |date=1 May 2024 }} PPBE "request to Congress includes $6{{nbsp}}billion to support Ukraine, NATO, and other European partner states, and $9.1{{nbsp}}billion for DoD's Pacific Deterrence Initiative".</ref><ref name="debtCeilingFix2Year">Nicola Slawson [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/02/first-thing-us-debt-ceiling-deal-passes-senate-averting-catastrophic-federal-default (2 Jun 2023) First Thing: US debt ceiling deal passes Senate, averting catastrophic federal default ]</ref> }} In January 2023, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the U.S. government would hit its $31.4{{nbsp}}trillion debt ceiling on 19 January 2023;<ref name="31teraUSD">{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=David |last2=Lawder |first2=David |date=20 January 2023 |title=U.S. hits debt ceiling as partisan standoff sparks economic worries |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-govt-touches-debt-limit-amid-standoff-between-republicans-democrats-2023-01-19/ |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805130540/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-govt-touches-debt-limit-amid-standoff-between-republicans-democrats-2023-01-19/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the date on which the U.S. government would no longer be able to use extraordinary measures such as issuance of Treasury securities is estimated to be in June 2023.<ref name="yellen">Victor Reklaitis [https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-to-hit-debt-limit-thursday-heres-what-it-means-11673983940 (17 January 2023) U.S. to hit debt limit Thursday: Here's what that means] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919013530/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-to-hit-debt-limit-thursday-heres-what-it-means-11673983940 |date=19 September 2023 }} *Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget [https://www.crfb.org/papers/qa-everything-you-should-know-about-debt-ceiling (28 Oct 2022) Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling] *Stephen Collinson [https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/biden-ukraine-new-tipping-point/index.html (18 Jan 2023) Russia's war in Ukraine reaches a critical moment] in power projection in light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine</ref> On 3 June 2023, the debt ceiling was suspended until 2025.<ref name="dorn">{{cite web |last=Dorn |first=Sara |title=Biden Signs Debt Ceiling Bill Into Law—Lifts Borrowing Limit Until 2025 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/03/biden-signs-debt-ceiling-bill-into-law-lifts-borrowing-limit-until-2025/ |access-date=6 June 2023 |website=Forbes |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606002844/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/03/biden-signs-debt-ceiling-bill-into-law-lifts-borrowing-limit-until-2025/ |url-status=live }} Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023</ref> The $886{{nbsp}}billion National Defense Authorization Act is facing reconciliation of the House and Senate bills after passing both houses 27 July 2023; the conferees have to be chosen, next.<ref name="facingReconcil2023">{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Justin |date=28 July 2023 |title=Ducking the culture wars, Senate passes NDAA 86–11 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/07/ducking-the-culture-wars-senate-passes-ndaa-86-11/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Breaking Defense }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name="ndaa2023">{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Connor |last2=Gould |first2=Joe |date=2 July 2023 |title=The Pentagon policy bill's next big stumbling block: Kevin McCarthy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/02/pentagon-policy-ndaa-kevin-mccarthy-00104466 |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Politico |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711223759/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/02/pentagon-policy-ndaa-kevin-mccarthy-00104466 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="harris2023">{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Bryant |date=23 June 2023 |title=Senate defense bill pushes for spending over debt ceiling cap |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/06/23/senate-defense-bill-pushes-for-spending-over-debt-ceiling-cap/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Defense News |url-status=live |archive-url= https://archive.today/20250518034509/https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/06/23/senate-defense-bill-pushes-for-spending-over-debt-ceiling-cap/ |archive-date= 18 May 2025 }}</ref> As of September 2023, a continuing resolution was needed to prevent a government shutdown.<ref name= 2023ShutdownThreat >{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Bryant |date=13 September 2023 |title=Freedom Caucus derails Pentagon spending bill, foreshadowing shutdown |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/13/freedom-caucus-derails-pentagon-spending-bill-foreshadowing-shutdown/ |website=Defense News |url-status=live |archive-url= https://archive.today/20250518022354/https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/13/freedom-caucus-derails-pentagon-spending-bill-foreshadowing-shutdown/ |archive-date= 18 May 2025 }} *{{cite web |date=18 September 2023 |title=Far-right Republicans drafted a short-term funding bill with GOP centrists. It's now at risk of collapse. |first1=Sahil |last1=Kapur |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-government-funding-bill-risk-collapse-rcna105706 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927020338/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-government-funding-bill-risk-collapse-rcna105706 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2025 |website=NBC News }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="demRepCoalitionLikely">{{cite news |title=Shutdown looms as US House Republicans again block own spending bill |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-look-restart-spending-agenda-with-defense-vote-2023-09-21/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221141/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-look-restart-spending-agenda-with-defense-vote-2023-09-21/ |archive-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |date=21 September 2023 |first1=David |last1=Morgan |first2=Richard |last2=Cowan |work=Reuters |access-date=11 May 2024 }}</ref> A shutdown was avoided on 30 September for 45 days (until 17 November 2023),<ref name= houseCr23 >Alexandra Hutzler and Nadine El-Bawab [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/government-shutdown-live-updates/?id=103597144 (30 Sep 2023) Government shutdown live updates: House passes 45-day stopgap spending bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511094317/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/government-shutdown-live-updates/?id=103597144 |date=11 May 2024 }}</ref><ref name= senatCr23 >Clare Foran, Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer, Annie Grayer, Lauren Fox and Melanie Zanona, CNN [https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/30/politics/us-government-shutdown-latest/index.html (30 Sep 2023) Congress passes stopgap bill to avert shutdown ahead of midnight deadline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221339/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/30/politics/us-government-shutdown-latest/index.html |date=1 May 2024 }}</ref><ref name= 2Crs >Rebecca Kheel [https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/11/15/congress-has-plan-avert-shutdown-its-about-make-pentagon-budgeting-even-more-complicated.html (15 Nov 2023) Congress Has Plan to Avert Shutdown, But It's About to Make Pentagon Budgeting Even More Complicated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221303/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/11/15/congress-has-plan-avert-shutdown-its-about-make-pentagon-budgeting-even-more-complicated.html |date=1 May 2024 }}</ref><ref name="defenseAuthExpected">Leo Shane III [https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2023/12/04/defense-authorization-deal-expected-this-week/ (3 Dec 2023) Defense authorization deal expected this week] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221058/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2023/12/04/defense-authorization-deal-expected-this-week/ |date=1 May 2024 }}</ref> with passage of the NDAA on 14 December 2023.<ref name= zengerle23 >Patricia Zengerle [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-lawmakers-introduce-sweeping-defense-bill-drop-most-culture-war-issues-2023-12-07/ (7 Dec 2023) US lawmakers introduce sweeping defense bill, drop most 'culture war' issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221513/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-lawmakers-introduce-sweeping-defense-bill-drop-most-culture-war-issues-2023-12-07/ |date=1 May 2024 }}; Patricia Zengerle [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/majority-us-senate-backs-mammoth-defense-policy-bill-voting-continues-2023-12-14/ (13 Dec 2023) US Senate passes mammoth defense policy bill, next up vote in House] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221320/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/majority-us-senate-backs-mammoth-defense-policy-bill-voting-continues-2023-12-14/ |date=1 May 2024 }} Bill is nearly 3100 pages, for $886 billion NDAA passed Senate 87–13; Bryant Harris [https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/12/14/congress-passed-the-fy24-defense-policy-bill-heres-whats-inside/ (14 Dec 2023) Congress passed the FY24 defense policy bill: Here's what's inside] passed House 310–118.</ref> The Senate will next undertake negotiations on supplemental spending for 2024.<ref name= supplementalUpNext >BURGESS EVERETT, ANTHONY ADRAGNA and JENNIFER HABERKORN [https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/14/schumer-sinema-ukraine-border-deal-00131838 (14 Dec 2024) Sinema 'can see the deal' on Ukraine-border as Schumer cuts recess]</ref><ref name="8Jan24status">Sumanti Sen [https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-government-shutdown-congressional-leaders-sign-1-66-trillion-government-funding-deal-101704687727129.html (8 Jan 2024) US government shutdown: Congressional leaders sign $1.66 trillion government funding deal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514230656/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-government-shutdown-congressional-leaders-sign-1-66-trillion-government-funding-deal-101704687727129.html |date=14 May 2024 }} $1,659 billion = $886.3 billion for defense, $772.7 billion for non-defense</ref> A government shutdown was averted on 23 March 2024 with the signing of a $1.2 trillion bill to cover FY2024.<ref name= trillionBudgetIn2024 >Clare Foran [https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/23/politics/biden-government-funding-bill-congress/index.html (23 Mar 2024) Biden signs government funding bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221147/https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/23/politics/biden-government-funding-bill-congress/index.html |date=1 May 2024 }}</ref><ref name= stopgapUntil8Mar24 >Carl Hulse [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/us/politics/senate-spending-bill.html (18 Jan 2024) Congress Clears Stopgap Spending Bill for Biden, Moving to Avert Shutdown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501221503/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/us/politics/senate-spending-bill.html |date=1 May 2024 }}</ref>

=== Criticism of finances === {{See also|Government Accountability Office investigations of the Department of Defense}}

A 2013 ''Reuters'' investigation concluded that Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the primary financial management arm of the Department of Defense, implements monthly "unsubstantiated change actions"—illegal, inaccurate "plugs"—that forcibly make DoD's books match Treasury's books.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |author-link=Scot J. Paltrow |date=18 November 2013 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Reuters }}</ref> Reuters reported that the Pentagon was the only federal agency that had not released annual audits as required by a 1992 law. According to Reuters, the Pentagon "annually reports to Congress that its books are in such disarray that an audit is impossible".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paltrow |first1=Scot J. |author1-link=Scot J. Paltrow |last2=Carr |first2=Kelly |date=2 July 2013 |title=Reuters Investigates – Unaccountable: The Pentagon's bad bookkeeping |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106192706/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1 |archive-date=6 January 2020 |access-date=24 December 2019 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |author-link=Scot J. Paltrow |date=18 November 2013 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, a Pentagon consulting firm performed an audit on the department's budget. It found that there was $125 billion in wasteful spending that could be saved over the next five years without layoffs or reduction in military personnel. In 2016, ''The Washington Post'' uncovered that rather than taking the advice of the auditing firm, senior defense officials suppressed and hid the report from the public to avoid political scrutiny.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |title=Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste |last1=Whitlock |first1=Craig |author1-link=Craig Whitlock |date=5 December 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=18 December 2017 |last2=Woodward |first2=Bob |author2-link=Bob Woodward |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=18 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218070634/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2016, the Office of the Inspector General released a report stating that the Army made $6.5 trillion in wrongful adjustments to its accounting entries in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paltrow |first1=Scot J. |author1-link=Scot J. Paltrow |date=19 August 2016 |title=U.S. Army fudged its accounts by trillions of dollars, auditor finds |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221045604/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |archive-date=21 December 2017 |access-date=18 December 2017 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The Department of Defense failed its fifth audit in 2022, and could not account for more than 60% of its $3.5 trillion in assets.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Ellen |date=17 November 2022 |title=Defense Department fails another audit, but makes progress|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |work=The Hill |location= |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119050754/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the latest Center for Effective Government analysis of 15 federal agencies which receive the most Freedom of Information Act requests, published in 2015 (using 2012 and 2013 data, the most recent years available), the DoD earned 61 out of a possible 100 points, a D− grade. While it had improved from a failing grade in 2013, it still had low scores in processing requests (55%) and disclosure rules (42%).<ref>[http://www.foreffectivegov.org/access-to-information-scorecard-2015/ Making the Grade: Access to Information Scorecard 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811044220/https://www.foreffectivegov.org/access-to-information-scorecard-2015 |date=11 August 2019 }} March 2015, 80 pages, Center for Effective Government, retrieved 21 March 2016.</ref>

== Related legislation == The organization and functions of the Department of Defense are in Title 10 of the United States Code.

Other significant legislation related to the Department of Defense includes: *1947: National Security Act of 1947 *1958: Department of Defense Reorganization Act, {{USPL|85|599}} *1963: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, {{USPL|88|149}} *1963: Military Construction Authorization Act, {{USPL|88|174}} *1967: Supplemental Defense Appropriations Act, {{USPL|90|8}} *1984: Department of Defense Authorization Act, {{USPL|98|525}} *1986: Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986 (Department of Defense Reorganization Act), {{USPL|99|433}} *1996: Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, {{USPL|104|132}}

== See also == {{Portal|United States|Politics}} {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * {{annotated link|Arms industry}} * Energy usage of the United States military * {{annotated link|Global Command and Control System}} * {{annotated link|JADE (planning system)}} * List of United States defense contractors * List of United States military bases * {{annotated link|Military–industrial complex}} * {{annotated link|Private military company}} * {{annotated link|Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations}} * United States Department of Justice * United States Department of Veterans Affairs * {{annotated link|Warrior Games}} * Military budget of the United States {{div col end}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}

=== Sources === * {{cite book |last=Polmar |first=Norman |author-link=Norman Polmar |title=The Naval Institute guide to the ships and aircraft of the U.S. Fleet |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2005|isbn=978-1-59114-685-8|url=https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm/page/20}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Whitley |editor-first=Joe D. |title=Homeland security: legal and policy issues |chapter=Unified Combatant Commands and USNORTHCOM |publisher=American Bar Association |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60442-462-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJI54yr1ymQC&pg=PA44|display-editors=etal}}

==Further reading== * Grossman, Mark, ed. ''Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet: 1789-2010'' (Grey House, 2010) in-depth history of the department and its leaders, as well as former War and Navy departments [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofun0000gros online]

== External links == {{Commons category multi|United States Department of Defense|The Pentagon}} {{Library resources box}} *{{Official website}} *[https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/department-of-defense Department of Defense] on USAspending.gov *[https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/defense-department Department of Defense] in the Federal Register *[https://comptroller.defense.gov/ Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)] Budget and Financial Management Policy *[http://www.wallstats.com/deathandtaxes/resource/ Death and Taxes: 2009] — a visual guide and infographic of the 2009 United States federal budget, including the Department of Defense with data provided by the Comptrollers office *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110906012808/http://iac.dtic.mil/iatac/ia_policychart.html Department of Defense IA Policy Chart] *Ryan Burke, [https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/04/27/enough_with_the_department_of_war_nonsense_1179078.html Enough with the "Department of War" Nonsense], RearClearDefense, April 27, 2025 *{{Gutenberg author |id=United+States.+Department+of+Defense}} *{{Internet Archive author |search=("Department of Defense" OR "DOD")}} *{{IA|defense-dept|Department of Defense Collection}}

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