In February of last year, Taxpayers for Common Sense produced a set of “4.6 Ideas for Various Federal Departments” as our suggested roadmap for the Biden Administration. Why 4.6 ideas instead of 5? Well, President Biden is the 46^th President of the United States, that’s why!

The Biden Administration has been in place for a year now. We thought we’d take a look back at our recommendations in the national security arena and provide an accounting of which ones have been acted upon.

In the past year, the new administration has agreed with most of our national security recommendations for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Now, not all of the agency actions are exactly what we might have wished for, but the spirit of the response is true to our original intentions. We’ll take it!

Read on for the deets. And be sure to click on the links to show the specific recommendations for the two agencies.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

RECOMMENDATION #1) for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account: End use of the “off-budget” OCO account. For years this slush fund has insulated the Pentagon from making the hard decisions every other part of the government has faced. Set the policy objectives. Knowing rough budget constraints, build a strategy to support those policies. Then request funding for the systems and people needed to execute that strategy.

Biden Administration action: Huzzah! When the Fiscal Year 2022 budget was announced, guess what? Not a dollar was requested through the OCO account! Win #1 for fiscal watchdogs everywhere.

RECOMMENDATION #2) for the F-35 Aircraft: Use the recently announced delay of the start of full rate production to reassess inventory needs for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. This is the most expensive procurement program in the history of the Pentagon. Take the necessary time to get this right.

Biden Administration action: After years of steeply escalating requests for numbers of F-35 airframes, the Biden Administration asked for “just” 86 airframes in the FY22 request. We say “just” because this was only six more aircraft than the FY21 request and actually ten fewer than Congress pressed upon the Pentagon when the final details of the FY21 budget deal was unveiled. We’ll take that as a “reassessment” and mostly a win. The upcoming FY23 budget request will reveal whether this is a full win or just a blip.

RECOMMENDATION #3) for the Nuclear Triad: Stop the modernization of the land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). This is the least survivable leg of the triad and the contract is still in its early days. Yes, it will cost the government some money to terminate the contract. But, again, what’s the nuclear strategy that requires three methods of delivering nuclear weapons?

Biden Administration action: as part of the so-called Legacy Program Review, the Pentagon has specifically called for an analysis of the efficacy of the ICBM as part of the triad strategy. Will this result in an actual change in strategy? Many people think not, but we’ll keep hope alive for diligent analysis of this important, and tremendously expensive, question.

RECOMMENDATION #4) for Shipbuilding: Get the Biden Administration shipbuilding plan out early; make sure it’s part of the FY2022 budget request. The Navy just released its much-delayed shipbuilding planning and it’s a whopper of a wish list. Congressional boosters of shipbuilding will now measure everything the Biden Administration decides on shipbuilding against this plan. Don’t wait a year to suggest changes to force structure.

Biden Administration action: Although the Biden Administration didn’t release its new shipbuilding plan until June of 2021, that beats the heck out of waiting until the Fiscal Year 2023 budget release. We’ll take this as a partial win.

RECOMMENDATION #4.6) for Congressional “Program Increases”: Immediately take the position that Congressionally recommended increases to Pentagon programs must be both authorized and appropriated at the same level before the Office of Management and Budget will obligate the funds. This will do two things: a) empower members of the authorizing committees, who have been forced into the back seat by appropriators, and b) significantly reduce the amount of program increases the administration is forced to absorb.

Biden Administration action: None.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

RECOMMENDATION #1) on Border Barriers: Immediately exercise contract options to terminate barrier construction contracts for the convenience of the government. Yes, it will cost the government some money to terminate the contracts for convenience, but that’s why government contracts contemplate potential terminations.

Biden Administration action: In July and October the Department of Homeland Security began terminating wall construction contracts. There are more contracts to be terminated, but we’ll call this a good start.

RECOMMENDATION #2) Border Barriers Redux: Return land that has been condemned or taken under eminent domain to the previous owners.

Biden Administration action: In some, but not all cases, the Biden Administration is taking action to return land to previous owners. Yup, that’s another win.

RECOMMENDATION #3) on Immigration Reform: Work with lawmakers to pursue common sense, comprehensive, and durable immigration reform.

Biden Administration action: The first full day of the Biden Administration, draft legislation was sent to Congress to address immigration reform. But note that our recommendation states the need to work with lawmakers. The Congress also needs to get serious about immigration reform. Win on the part of the Biden Administration; over to you, Congress.

RECOMMENDATION #4) Border Security: To encourage Congressional interest in immigration reform, develop a package of high-tech/low-touch border security measures as a less intrusive alternative to barriers.

Biden Administration action: The administration’s draft legislation includes a request for funding for “technology to expedite screening and enhance the ability to identify narcotics and other contraband at every land, air, and sea port of entry.” But the administration needs to put some muscle behind their legislation.

RECOMMENDATION #4.6) DHS Roles and Missions Review: Begin a department-wide assessment of the shape and scope of DHS. This department was cobbled together in haste, and in response to the terrorist attacks of 2001. It consists of widely disparate agencies that may better fit under other federal departments. Be bold and consider potential changes early in the Biden Administration.

Biden Administration action: None.

So, there you have it. Of ten solid recommendations for ways to protect Americans from the wasteful use of our tax dollars, the Biden Administration has taken action on eight of them. Some of those actions aren’t everything we’ve dreamed of. But, hey, to misquote the late, great Meat Loaf: Eight Out of Ten ain’t Bad!