Levi,
I am unsure of your military service. Being a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer that served through the Reagan and Clintion administrations, I can tell you quite abit about the Department of Defense and its "Budget". First of all the budget that is listed is not really what it seems to be, as the practice of adding special pork or earmarks for special projects adds to the overall budget.
The real issue is simply taken care of by not allowing earmarks to ANY budgets. Another fix is by making forgien countries such as but not limited to; Germany, South Korea, Japan, and numerous others pay ALL costs associated for our troops to be stationed on their soil. This would include payroll, medical costs (for family members also), retirement and all equipment supplies and bases that our service members are stationed at.
Really any Farmer, Rancher, Businessman or average Joe understands one basic principal in book keeping, you can't continue to spend more than you have (Your Mom and Dad probably taught you that).
Secondly, Our government has continued to add numerous programs throughout the years that need to be changed or disbanded. One is the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It's been over one hundred years now, time to cut the umbilical cord. Want to see what government programs do to destroy the pride and dignity of a whole group of people... go look at what a great job they have done for a former proud and self sufficent Native American society. It's sad when you drive through the reservations of Montana.