Electoral battles

Clinton vs. Trump: Implications for Defense 

Defense analysts expect that Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would push for higher levels of defense spending if elected president, but it’s less clear which programs would benefit or suffer during their tenure in the Oval Office.

Both candidates have said they want to increase Pentagon funding beyond the amounts set by the Budget Control Act caps, which are slated to go back into effect in fiscal year 2018.

On her campaign website, Clinton called for “ending the sequester for both defense and non-defense spending in a balanced way.” 

She would also prioritize “defense reform initiatives, curbing runaway cost growth in areas like health care and acquisition, and stretching every dollar.”