View source for Department of Defense

{{Short description|Executive department of the US federal government}}
{{Redirect|DoD|3=DOD (disambiguation) {{!}} DOD}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = United States Department of Defense
| seal            = US Department of Defense seal.svg
| seal_width      = 180
| seal_caption    = Seal of the Department of Defense
| logo            = United States Department of Defense Logo (2021).svg
| logo_width      = 250
| logo_caption    = Logo for the Department of Defense
| picture         = An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023.jpg
| picture_width   = 250 px
| picture_caption = An aerial view of the Pentagon
| formed          = {{start date and age|1947|9|18|br=y}} (as National Military Establishment)
| preceding1      = [[United States Department of War|Department of War]]
| preceding2      = [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]]
| agency_type     = [[United States Federal Executive Departments|Executive Department]]
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States|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}}
| region_code     = US
| employees       = {{ubl|747,809 (civilian)<ref>{{cite web |title=DoD Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications|url=https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports |date=June 30, 2022 |publisher=Defense Manpower Data Center |access-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-date=November 3, 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>|1,344,330 (active duty military)|778,096 (National Guard and reserve)|
2,870,235 total (June 2022)}}
| budget          = $842 billion FY2024
| chief1_name     = [[Lloyd J. Austin]]
| chief1_position = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary]]
| chief2_name     = [[Kathleen Hicks]]
| chief2_position = [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretary]]
| chief3_name     = [[Charles Q. Brown Jr.]]
| chief3_position = [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
| chief4_name     =  [[Christopher W. Grady]]
| 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   = [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]]
| child2_agency   = [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]]
| child3_agency   = [[United States Department of the Air Force|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         = {{URL|https://www.defense.gov|defense.gov}}
}}
{{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 |publisher=Department of Defense |access-date=December 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829163034/http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/dodd/corres/pdf/51104m_030204/p51104m.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2004 |page=9}}</ref> '''USDOD''', or '''DOD''') is an [[United States federal executive departments|executive branch department]] of the [[federal government of the United States]] charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the U.S. government directly related to [[national security]] and the [[United States Armed Forces]]. As of November 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense is the second largest employer in the world—After India; and potentially China, if including the Central Military Commission.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World's Biggest Employers|url= https://www.statista.com/chart/3585/the-worlds-biggest-employers/ |work=Statista |date= November 11, 2022 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408133455/https://www.statista.com/chart/3585/the-worlds-biggest-employers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With over 1.4&nbsp; million active-duty service personnel, including soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and guardians. The Department of Defense also maintains over 778,000 [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] and reservists, and over 747,000 civilians bringing the total to over 2.91&nbsp; million employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DoD Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications |url=https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/app/dod-data-reports/workforce-reports |access-date=October 30, 2022 |publisher=www.dmdc.osd.mil |archive-date=November 3, 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> Headquartered at [[the Pentagon]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]], just outside [[Washington, D.C.]], the Department of Defense's stated mission 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 &gt; Our Story |website=www.defense.gov |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223518/https://www.defense.gov/our-story/ |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 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=June 29, 2018 |work=Task & Purpose |access-date=July 1, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 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 [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the [[president of the United States]], the latter of which is also the [[Powers of the president of the United States#Commander-in-chief|commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces]]. Beneath the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments: the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], and the [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]]. In addition, four [[United States Intelligence Community|national intelligence services]] are subordinate to the Department of Defense: the Defense Intelligence Agency ([[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]), the National Security Agency ([[National Security Agency|NSA]]), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ([[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|NGA]]), and the National Reconnaissance Office ([[National Reconnaissance Office|NRO]]). Other [[List of Department of Defense agencies|Defense agencies]] include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]), the Defense Logistics Agency ([[Defense Logistics Agency|DLA]]), the Missile Defense Agency ([[Missile Defense Agency|MDA]]), the Defense Health Agency ([[Defense Health Agency|DHA]]), Defense Threat Reduction Agency ([[Defense Threat Reduction Agency|DTRA]]), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency ([[Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency|DCSA]]), the Space Development Agency ([[Space Development Agency|SDA]]) and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency ([[Pentagon Force Protection Agency|PFPA]]), all of which are subordinate to the secretary of defense. Additionally, the Defense Contract Management Agency ([[Defense Contract Management Agency|DCMA]]) is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of Defense. Military operations are managed by eleven regional or functional [[unified combatant command]]s. The Department of Defense also operates several joint services schools, including the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy|Eisenhower School]] (ES) and the [[National War College]] (NWC).

==History==
{{Further|History of the United States military}}
{{See also|National Security Act of 1947}}
Faced with rising tensions between the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and the [[Parliament of Great Britain|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 [[American Revolutionary War|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 June 14, 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=http://www.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=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Maass, John R. |archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001214256/https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> This momentous event is commemorated in the U.S. annually as [[Flag Day (United States)|Flag Day]]. Later that year, Congress would charter the [[Continental Navy]] on October 13,<ref name="Navy Birthday">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |title=Navy Birthday Information – October 13, 1775 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Naval History and Heritage Command |archive-date=January 1, 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 November 10.

=== War Department and Navy Department ===
{{Main|United States Department of War|United States Department of the Navy}}
Upon the seating of the [[1st United States Congress|1st U.S. Congress]] on March 4, 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, September 29, 1789, Congress created the [[United States War Department|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=June 20, 2014 |archive-date=October 3, 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=January 28, 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=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The War Department handled naval affairs until Congress created the [[United States Department of the Navy|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 ===
[[File:Photograph of President Truman at his desk in the Oval Office, signing the National Security Act Amendments of 1949... - NARA - 200168.jpg|thumb|[[Harry Truman|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 [[United States Congress|Congress]] on December 19, 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 |author=Hogan, Michael J. |title=A cross of iron: Harry S. Truman and the origins of the national security state, 1945–1954 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-521-79537-1 |pages=37–38|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hd4C3cY7Y7IC&pg=PA37}}</ref> On July 26, 1947, Truman signed the [[National Security Act of 1947]], which set up a unified military command known as the National Military Establishment and created the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], [[National Security Resources Board]], [[United States Air Force]], and the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. The act placed the National Military Establishment under the control of a single [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]].<ref name="Polmar-2005-p17">{{cite book |author=Polmar, Norman |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|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8MwyTX-iA2wC&pg=PA17}}</ref><ref name="nibley">{{cite web|url=http://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=July 25, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 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 September 18, the day after the [[United States Senate|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 August 10, 1949, and absorbed the three cabinet-level military departments, in an amendment to the original 1947 law.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Rearden, Steven L. |chapter=Department of Defense |editor=DeConde, Alexander |title=Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, Volume 1 |publisher=Simon and 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> The renaming is alleged to be due to the Establishment's abbreviation, NME, being pronounced "enemy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Archives NextGen Catalog|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10455766|access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=catalog.archives.gov |archive-date=November 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113131311/https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10455766 |url-status=live }}</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 [[command hierarchy|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 Commander(s), and then to the unified combatant commander(s).<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 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=July 20, 2023 |website=www.usmcu.edu |language=en-US}}</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 August 6, 1958.

== Organizational structure ==
{{Main|Organizational structure of the United States Department of Defense}}
{{See also|List of Department of Defense agencies}}
[[File:Organization of U.S. Space Force.png|thumb|Organization of the Department of Defense following the creation of the United States Space Force]]
[[File:DoD Organization December 2013.jpg|thumb|A December 2013 Department of Defense organizational chart]]
The [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the [[United States Senate|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 of the United States|Constitution]] vests all military authority in [[United States Congress|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 ([[Office of the Secretary of Defense|OSD]]), the Joint Chiefs of Staff ([[Joint Chiefs of Staff|JCS]]) and the Joint Staff ([[Joint Staff|JS]]), Office of the Inspector General ([[Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense|DODIG]]), the [[Unified Combatant Command|Combatant Commands]], the Military Departments ([[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]] (DA), [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] (DON) & [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]] (DAF)), the [[List of Department of Defense agencies|Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities]], the [[National Guard Bureau]] (NGB), 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 former 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=Odam.defense.gov |access-date=June 15, 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=May 7, 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=May 3, 2012 |archive-date=May 25, 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}}
[[File:DoD Structure Jan2008.png|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 [[Federal government of the United States|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 [[Secretary of Defense-Empowered Cross-Functional Teams|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]] (AFRRI)
*[[Department of Defense Education Activity]] (DoDEA)
*[[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA)
*[[Defense Commissary Agency]] (DeCA)
*[[Defense Contract Audit Agency]] (DCAA)
*[[Defense Contract Management Agency]] (DCMA)
*[[Defense Finance and Accounting Service]] (DFAS)
*[[Defense Health Agency]] (DHA)
*[[Defense Information Systems Agency]] (DISA)
*[[Defense Legal Services Agency]]
*[[Defense Logistics Agency]] (DLA)
*[[Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency]] (DPAA)
*[[Defense Security Cooperation Agency]] (DSCA)
*[[Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency]] (DCSA)
*[[Defense Technical Information Center]] (DTIC)
*[[Defense Threat Reduction Agency]] (DTRA)
*[[Space Development Agency]] (SDA)
}}

==== 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 [[Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]]. They fulfill the requirements of national policymakers and war planners, serve as [[Combat support agency|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 (intelligence collection)|human intelligence]] [[Defense Clandestine Service|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]] (JCS) is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the Department of Defense who advise the secretary of defense, the [[United States Homeland Security Council|Homeland Security Council]], the [[United States National Security Council|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]] (CJCS), [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (VCJCS), senior enlisted advisor to the chairman (SEAC), the Military Service chiefs from the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army]], [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[Chief of Naval Operations|Navy]], [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force]], and [[United States Space Force|Space Force]], in addition to the chief of [[National Guard Bureau]], all appointed by the president following [[United States Senate|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>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C.]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C305.txt §&nbsp;3033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222246/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C305.txt |date=March 12, 2013 }}</ref><ref>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C.]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C505.txt §&nbsp;5033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222228/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C505.txt |date=March 12, 2013 }}</ref><ref>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C.]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C506.txt §&nbsp;5043] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312221844/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C506.txt |date=March 12, 2013 }}</ref><ref>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C.]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C805.txt §&nbsp;8033] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222221/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C805.txt |date=March 12, 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=July 20, 2023 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}}</ref> The remaining Joint Chiefs of Staff may only have their advice relayed to the President, National Security Council, the [[United States Homeland Security Council|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=July 20, 2023 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}}</ref>   The chain of command goes from the [[President of the United States|president]] to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]] to the [[Unified Combatant Command|commanders of the Combatant Commands]].<ref>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C.]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C6.txt §&nbsp;162(b)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529014041/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C6.txt |date=May 29, 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>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt §&nbsp;151(b)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222255/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt|date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>

The Joint Staff (JS) is a headquarters staff at the [[The Pentagon|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]] (DJS) who is a [[Lieutenant General (United States)|lieutenant general]] or [[Vice Admiral (United States)|vice admiral]].<ref>[[Title 10 of the United States Code|10 U.S.C]] [http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt §&nbsp;155] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312222255/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C5.txt|date=March 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Polmar, Norman |chapter=Defense organization |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|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8MwyTX-iA2wC&pg=PA19 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm}}</ref>

=== Military departments and services ===
There are three military departments within the Department of Defense:
# the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], within which the [[United States Army]] is organized.
# the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], within which the [[United States Navy]] and the [[United States Marine Corps]] are organized.
# the [[United States Department of the Air Force|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., [[United States Secretary of the Army|Secretary of the Army]], [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] and [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]]), appointed by the president, with the advice and consent of the [[United States Senate|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 [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]] and (by SecDef delegation) to the [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|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 United States Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]], [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]], [[Chief of Naval Operations]],  [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Chief of Staff of the Air Force]], and [[Chief of Space Operations]]) over forces not assigned to a [[Unified Combatant Command|Combatant Command]].<ref name="Polmar, Norman 2005 20">{{cite book |author=Polmar, Norman |chapter=Defense Organization |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|page=[https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm/page/20 20]|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8MwyTX-iA2wC&pg=PA20|url=https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm/page/20}}</ref>

Secretaries of Military Departments and service chiefs do not possess operational command authority over U.S. troops (this power was stripped from them in the [[Defense Reorganization Act of 1958]]), and instead, Military Departments are tasked solely with "the training, provision of equipment, and administration of troops."<ref name="Polmar, Norman 2005 20" />
<gallery class="center" caption="Military Departments of the Department of Defense">
File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|[[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]]
File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|[[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]]
File:Seal of the US Air Force.svg|[[United States Department of the Air Force|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|[[United States Army|U.S. Army]]
File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg|[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]]
File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg|[[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]
File:Mark of the United States Air Force.svg|[[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]
File:United States Space Force emblem.png|[[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]]
</gallery>

=== Unified Combatant Commands ===
{{main|Unified combatant command}}
[[File:GCCMAP 2019.png|thumb|U.S. Department of Defense combatant command areas of responsibility]]
A [[unified combatant command]] is a military command composed of personnel/equipment from at least two Military Departments, which has a broad/continuing mission.<ref>{{cite book |author=Watson, Cynthia A. |title=Combatant Commands: Origins, Structure, and Engagements |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2010|isbn=978-0-313-35432-8|page=3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v183dxvXOa0C&pg=PA3}}</ref><ref name="ABA-p44">{{cite book |editor=Whitley, 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}}</ref>

These military departments are responsible for equipping and training troops to fight, while the Unified Combatant Commands are responsible for military forces' actual operational command.<ref name="ABA-p44" /> Almost all operational U.S. forces are under the authority of a Unified Command.<ref name="Polmar, Norman 2005 20" /> The Unified Commands are governed by a [[Unified Command Plan]]—a frequently updated document (produced by the DoD), which lays out the Command's mission, geographical/functional responsibilities, and force structure.<ref name="ABA-p44" />

During military operations, the chain of command runs from the president to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]] to the [[combatant commander]]s of the Combatant Commands.<ref name="Polmar, Norman 2005 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/Our-Story/Combatant-Commands/ |title=Combat Commands |website=US Department of Defense |access-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-date=January 17, 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]]
[[File:United States Defense Outlays.png|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 [[List of countries by military expenditures|global military spending]] – more than the next 7 largest militaries combined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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=March 8, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 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=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 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 (February 05, 2020) SecDef Eyeing Moving Billions By Eliminating Offices, Legacy Systems |date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 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= esper3,5 >[https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/flatline-secdef-esper-says-dod-budgets-must-grow-3-5/Paul McLeary (February 06, 2020) Flatline: SecDef Esper Says DoD Budgets Must Grow 3–5%]</ref>

The Department of Defense accounts for the majority of federal discretionary spending. In FY 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 items that are outside the Department of Defense budget, such as nuclear weapons research, maintenance, cleanup, and production, which is in the Department of Energy budget, Veterans Affairs, the Treasury Department's payments in pensions to military retirees and widows and their families, interest on debt incurred in past wars, or State Department financing of foreign arms sales and militarily-related development assistance. Neither does it include defense spending that is not military, such as the Department of Homeland Security, counter-terrorism spending 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&nbsp;billion, with a further $75.5&nbsp;billion adjustment in respect of 2009, and $130&nbsp;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=[[United States Government Printing Office|Government Printing Office]] |access-date=January 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205005029/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref> The subsequent 2010 Department of Defense Financial Report shows the total budgetary resources for [[fiscal year]] 2010 were $1.2&nbsp;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=January 7, 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=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Of these resources, $1.1&nbsp;trillion were obligated and $994&nbsp;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 [[US military expenditure#GAO audits|non-compliance]], [[United States Congress|Congress]] has established a deadline of [[Fiscal year]] 2017 for the Department of Defense to achieve [[Audit#Accounting|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=[[Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)|Comptroller, Department of Defense]] |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=April 29, 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>

In 2015 the allocation for the Department of Defense was $585&nbsp; 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=August 18, 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=August 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Military budget of the United States|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 spending|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=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814004718/https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 28, 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=September 28, 2018 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=February 17, 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 September 30, 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=February 16, 2019 |archive-date=February 13, 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

[[Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)|Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller)]] [[David Norquist|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 Operation|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/20190213083455/https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2019/FY19_Green_Book.pdf |date=February 13, 2019 }} 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 [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|House Committee on Armed Services]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|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=February 16, 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 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=February 16, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 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 10 March 2023 the [[fiscal year]] 2024 (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] 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 the US 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=2023-01-20 |title=U.S. hits debt ceiling as partisan standoff sparks economic worries |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-govt-touches-debt-limit-amid-standoff-between-republicans-democrats-2023-01-19/ |access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref> the date on which the US government would no longer be able to use [[United States debt ceiling#Extraordinary measures|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]
*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=2023-06-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}} [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]]</ref> The $886{{nbsp}}billion [[2024 NDAA|National Defense Authorization Act]] is facing reconciliation of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|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=2023-07-28 |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=2023-08-17 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ndaa2023">{{Cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Connor |last2=Gould |first2=Joe |date=2023-07-02 |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=2023-08-17 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="harris2023">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Bryant |date=2023-06-23 |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=2023-08-17 |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref> As of September 2023, a [[Continuing resolution]] is needed to prevent a [[Government shutdowns in the United States|Government shutdown]].<ref name= 2023ShutdownThreat >Bryant Harris [https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/13/freedom-caucus-derails-pentagon-spending-bill-foreshadowing-shutdown/ (13 Sep 2023) Freedom Caucus derails Pentagon spending bill, foreshadowing shutdown] 30 Sep 2023 is looming date for shutdown.
*Sahil Kapur [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-government-funding-bill-risk-collapse-rcna105706?cid=referral_taboolafeed (18 Sep 2023) Far-right Republicans drafted a short-term funding bill with GOP centrists. It’s now at risk of collapse.]</ref><ref name= demRepCoalitionLikely >Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-look-restart-spending-agenda-with-defense-vote-2023-09-21/ (21 Sep 2023) Shutdown looms as US House Republicans again block own spending bill]</ref><ref name= whatShutdownAffects >Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-look-restart-spending-agenda-with-defense-vote-2023-09-21/ (21 Sep 2023) US government shutdown: What closes, what stays open?] See [[Government shutdowns in the United States]]</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]</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]</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]</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]</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]; 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] 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] $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]</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]</ref>

=== Criticism of finances ===
A 2013 ''Reuters'' investigation concluded that [[Defense Finance and Accounting Service|Defense Finance & Accounting Service]], the Department of Defense's primary financial management arm, 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. |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live }}</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. |last2=Carr |first2=Kelly |date=July 2, 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=January 6, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2019 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |date=2013-11-18 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=2021-02-16 |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 of Defense'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 |date=December 5, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 18, 2017 |last2=Woodward |first2=Bob |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=December 18, 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, U.S. Department of Defense|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. |date=August 19, 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=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 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=November 17, 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 (newspaper)|The Hill]] |location= |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 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 (United States)|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=August 11, 2019 }} March 2015, 80 pages, [[Center for Effective Government]], retrieved March 21, 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}}
*[[Arms industry]]
*[[Energy usage of the United States military]]
*[[Global Command and Control System]]
*[[JADE (planning system)]]
*[[List of United States defense contractors]]
*[[List of United States military bases]]
*[[Military–industrial complex]]
*[[Nuclear weapon]]s
*[[Private military company]]
*[[Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations]]
*[[United States Department of Homeland Security]]
*[[United States Department of Justice]]
*[[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]]
*[[Warrior Games]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== 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]]
*[http://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]
*{{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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