Trim Military Surpluses to Reinforce US Weaknessesbr Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates - Ronald Reagan Building Amphitheaterbr Political gridlock in Washington triggered across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, in March. As a result, the Pentagon was given six months to eliminate $41 billion from the current year's budget, and unlike past cuts, this time everything is on the table. In 2011, America spent $711 billion dollars on its defense-more than the next 13 highest spending countries combined. But the burdens it shoulders, both at home and abroad, are unprecedented.