Advocates Urge $24 Billion Budget for US Special Operations Command

Former acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller and Phil Anderson argue that the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) requires a budget increase to $24 billion to address surging global demands. Despite a 300 percent rise in demand for special operations capabilities over the past five years, SOCOM’s budget has remained flat since fiscal year 2019, resulting in a 15 percent erosion of purchasing power. SOCOM Commander Admiral Mitch Bradley testified that resource shortages forced the command to deny capability requests on 70 occasions in the last year alone. The authors contend that under-resourcing threatens modernization efforts in critical areas such as electronic warfare, edge computing, and maritime domain awareness. They emphasize that continued neglect strains personnel and limits the ability to confront adversaries below the threshold of open conflict. To rectify this, they urge Congress to elevate the Assistant Secretary for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict to ensure adequate advocacy and budgetary control. The article highlights the strategic necessity of investing in special operations to maintain superiority in an increasingly complex security environment characterized by irregular warfare and state-sponsored proxy activities.