US military spending

Overview

United States Democrats and liberals are frequently criticized as being anti-military, with the correlation between military spending and presidential party affiliation being offered as evidence. There is clearly a correlation, and further analysis is needed, but it should be noted that (for example) military spending declined significantly under George H.W. Bush and grew under Jimmy Carter. Overall, there has been a mostly-steady decline in military spending since the end of World War II, rather than a clear oscillation between low Democratic spending levels and higher Republican ones.

Military budgets by president

Changeover years are credited to both outgoing and incoming presidents. GDP = Gross Domestic Product; DS = Discretionary Spending. Source: truthandpolitics.org

President	Years	Party	% of GDP	% of DS
Bill Clinton	1993-2001	D	Template:Expr: (4.4+4.0+3.7+3.5+3.3+3.1+3.0+3.0+3.0)/9 (4.4, 4.0, 3.7, 3.5, 3.3, 3.1, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0)	Template:Expr: (54.2+52.1+50.2+49.9+49.6+48.9+48.2+48.0+47.1)/9 (54.2, 52.1, 50.2, 49.9, 49.6, 48.9, 48.2, 48.0, 47.1)
George H.W. Bush	1989-1993	R	Template:Expr: (5.6+5.2+4.6+4.8+4.4)/5 (5.6, 5.2, 4.6, 4.8, 4.4)	Template:Expr: (62.2+60.0+59.9+56.7+54.2)/5 (62.2, 60.0, 59.9, 56.7, 54.2)
Ronald Reagan	1981-1989	R	Template:Expr: (5.1+5.7+6.1+5.9+6.1+6.2+6.1+5.8+5.6)/9 (5.1, 5.7, 6.1, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.1, 5.8, 5.6)	Template:Expr: (51.3+57.0+59.4+60.1+60.9+62.4+63.6+62.6+62.2)/9 (51.3, 57.0, 59.4, 60.1, 60.9, 62.4, 63.6, 62.6, 62.2)
Jimmy Carter	1977-1981	D	Template:Expr: (4.9+4.7+4.6+4.9+5.1)/5 (4.9, 4.7, 4.6, 4.9, 5.1)	Template:Expr: (49.5+47.8+48.7+48.7+51.3)/5 (49.5, 47.8, 48.7, 48.7, 51.3)

Reference

• Relative Size of US Military Spending, 1940-2003
• Wikipedia: Military budget of the United States