15
May 2024
Past Event
Flipping the Cube: Transforming the Defense Budget Structure

Event will also air live on this page.

 

Inquiries: mdewitt@hudson.org

Flipping the Cube: Transforming the Defense Budget Structure

Past Event
Hudson Institute
May 15, 2024
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team performs a practice airshow performance at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Jan. 11, 2023. The F-35 Demo Team performs rehearsal flights regularly to maintain flying certifications and to uphold and maintain their mission and Air Force recruiting standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Ergish)
Caption
An F-35A Lightning II performs a practice flight at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on January 11, 2023. (US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Ergish)
15
May 2024
Past Event

Event will also air live on this page.

 

Inquiries: mdewitt@hudson.org

Speakers:
Vice President of Defense Strategic Space, Aerospace Corporation and Former Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, the Pentagon
Jamie Morin

Vice President of Defense Strategic Space, Aerospace Corporation and Former Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, the Pentagon

Norquist
David Norquist

President and Chief Executive Officer, National Defense Industrial Association and Former Deputy Secretary of Defense and Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller)

dan_patt
Dan Patt

Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology

Listen to Event Audio

The Pentagon’s $820 billion budget is the United States government’s biggest expense other than Social Security and health care. However, despite its obvious importance, the Defense Department’s budgeting process is notoriously inflexible and slow. As a result, current operational and security needs often do not match spending priorities established two or more years ago.

Congress recently established an independent Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform to identify ways to improve the defense budgeting process. A key recommendation in the commission’s final report is to transform the structure of the defense budget itself—realigning it to better connect funding to desired outcomes. Rather than organizing spending by inputs in a “cube” with categories of activity such as research, procurement, or operations on one side and military services and programs on the other sides, the proposed new structure would divide the budget primarily in terms of missions and capabilities.  

Proponents argue that this approach would foster greater transparency, agility, and innovation by allowing the Pentagon to move money where it is needed to address challenges and opportunities. Skeptics raise concerns about ensuring adequate oversight when funding is not tied to specific inputs.

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Dan Patt for a discussion on restructuring the defense budget with two commissioners who shaped this proposal—Jamie Morin, former Pentagon director of cost assessment and program evaluation, and David Norquist, former deputy secretary of defense and under secretary of defense (comptroller). The panel will explore the problems this reform aims to solve, alternative approaches the panel considered, how increased flexibility could reshape incentives and decision-making, and potential downsides and implementation obstacles.

Related Events
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Vanguard of Manufacturing: Fortifying US National Security
Featured Speakers:
Austin Grey
Hon. Peter J. F. Meijer
Patrick Hunt
Julius Krein
Eric Hostetler
Russell Varone
Moderator:
Nadia Schadlow
Getty Images
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Vanguard of Manufacturing: Fortifying US National Security

Join Hudson Institute for a conference on the future of America’s industrial base.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Austin Grey
Hon. Peter J. F. Meijer
Patrick Hunt
Julius Krein
Eric Hostetler
Russell Varone
Moderator:
Nadia Schadlow
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Stability, Security, and Prosperity in Southeastern Europe: A Priority for the Transatlantic Community
Featured Speakers:
Alexandru Nazare
Anca Dragu
Jan Ruzicka
Ambassador Philip Kosnett (Ret.)
Justin Siberell
Moderators:
Luke Coffey
Peter Rough
Getty Images
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Stability, Security, and Prosperity in Southeastern Europe: A Priority for the Transatlantic Community

Concurrent with the World Bank–International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington, DC, Hudson will host a high-level discussion on Southeastern Europe. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Alexandru Nazare
Anca Dragu
Jan Ruzicka
Ambassador Philip Kosnett (Ret.)
Justin Siberell
Moderators:
Luke Coffey
Peter Rough
16
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
CCP Committee Chairman John Moolenaar on the State of US-China Relations
Featured Speakers:
Congressman John Moolenaar
David Feith
Getty Images
16
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
CCP Committee Chairman John Moolenaar on the State of US-China Relations

Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, will join Hudson Senior Fellow David Feith to discuss how Washington should approach the US-China relationship in an era of rising geopolitical competition.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Congressman John Moolenaar
David Feith
14
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Czech-US Defense and Security Forum
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Zbyněk Pavlačík
Ambassador Tomáš Pojar
Kristýna Helm
Radka Konderlová
Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski, USAF (Ret.)
Mislav Tolusic
Jan Jireš, PhD
Marek Polčák
Katie Wheelbarger
Brandon Tseng
Michael Madsen
Lorenz Meier
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Hughes
Sean Cantrell
Jerry Javornicky
Václav Kobera
Amb. Miloslav Stašek
Moderators:
Peter Rough
Daniel Kochis
Jan Havránek
Timothy A. Walton
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Nadia Schadlow
Webpage Graphic
14
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Czech-US Defense and Security Forum

This forum will bring together American and Czech officials, defense experts, and industry leaders in Washington, DC.

Webpage Graphic
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Zbyněk Pavlačík
Ambassador Tomáš Pojar
Kristýna Helm
Radka Konderlová
Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski, USAF (Ret.)
Mislav Tolusic
Jan Jireš, PhD
Marek Polčák
Katie Wheelbarger
Brandon Tseng
Michael Madsen
Lorenz Meier
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Hughes
Sean Cantrell
Jerry Javornicky
Václav Kobera
Amb. Miloslav Stašek
Moderators:
Peter Rough
Daniel Kochis
Jan Havránek
Timothy A. Walton
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Nadia Schadlow