The Common Defense (Summary)

Author: Christopher Miller, Kiron Skinner, Russ Vought, and others

Summary

• The chapter underscores the vital importance of the Departments of Defense and State in national defense and foreign affairs.
• Christopher Miller criticizes the current state of the Department of Defense (DoD), highlighting issues such as a focus on leftist politics over military readiness, poor recruitment rates, and the negative impact of the Biden Administration’s equity agenda and vaccine mandates.
• Miller emphasizes the deterioration of the U.S. defense industrial base, risk-averse culture within the military, and the need for a shift towards promoting courage and readiness.
• The chapter identifies China as the most significant external threat to the U.S., with its military buildup posing a severe challenge. The U.S. must strengthen its defense capabilities, particularly in the Pacific region, to deter Chinese aggression.
• There is a call to restore the constitutional division of war powers between Congress and the Executive, ensuring that decisions about going to war are made deliberatively.
• The chapter argues for a top priority to be placed on missile defense, American-made weapons, and an effective counterterrorism strategy.
• Kiron Skinner discusses issues within the State Department, such as its left-leaning workforce and resistance to conservative policies. She advocates for strong political leadership and reforms to align the department with the President’s agenda.
• The chapter also criticizes the State Department’s approach to international agreements and trade, suggesting a focus on strategic alliances and the sovereignty of neighboring nations like Mexico.
• The U.S. should reassess its approach to China, moving away from cooperation and instead exerting external pressure to curb China’s aggressive actions.
• Other contributions call for reforming or abolishing ineffective agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which have been criticized for promoting divisive political agendas.

Analysis

• If the U.S. Government were to implement the ideas in this chapter, it could lead to a significant shift in military and foreign policy, focusing on strengthening national defense, particularly against China.
• Reforms to the DoD and State Department could result in a more focused and ideologically aligned military and diplomatic corps, potentially increasing U.S. effectiveness in global affairs.
• The restructuring of agencies like DHS and USAID might streamline operations but could also lead to debates over the role of government in managing border security and international development.
• Prioritizing missile defense and American-made weapons could bolster national security but may also lead to increased defense spending.
• A stronger stance against China could heighten tensions, leading to a more confrontational U.S. foreign policy, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tags

• National Defense
• U.S. Foreign Policy
• Military Reform
• China Threat
• State Department Reforms

Read the original chapter text here: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf#page=120

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