Morning Note

The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for a $400 billion cut to Donald Trump’s enormous $1.5 trillion military budget, accepting the reality that the proposal lacks the congressional support to pass. 

A defense industry official told Politico on Thursday that officials are drafting a smaller $1.1 trillion budget and evaluating which programs to prioritize in the face of reduced funding. The cuts could scramble the Defense Department’s efforts to procure new weapons platforms and enter into new agreements with the defense industry.

If this story makes you nervous about America’s safety, please know you do not really have anything to worry about. Our country does not need anything close to a $1.5 trillion military budget. China spends the second most on defense, and its annual total is less than $400 billion. Our massive spending is essentially a corrupt handout to companies like Lockheed Martin. It is not actually necessary to keep our nation protected. Read more.