Coalition for Fiscal and National security
The Coalition for Fiscal and National Security is a bipartisan group of highly distinguished and respected leaders in defense, economic, and national security policy, who have served during eight Presidential administrations (both Democratic and Republican), and as leaders in Congress.
The Coalition, convened by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and chaired by Admiral Mike Mullen, emphasizes the fundamental link between America’s long-term fiscal health and our national security. The group has released a new statement to draw our country’s attention to the fact that America’s global leadership requires a foundation of economic growth and fiscal sustainability, and to the urgent need to update and re-prioritize our defense and foreign policy strategies to reflect a changing security environment.
- Read the Coalition’s 2016 statement, “Strength at Home and Abroad: Ensuring America’s Fiscal and National Security.”
- Watch the video of a panel discussion at the 2016 Fiscal Summit, featuring Coalition Chairman, Mike Mullen, Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Senator Sam Nunn in a conversation moderated by David Sanger from the New York Times.
- Read the press release for the 2016 statement.
Coalition for Fiscal and National Security Members
The Coalition for Fiscal and National Security last convened in 2016, issuing a statement titled, "Strength at Home and Abroad: Ensuring America's Fiscal and National Security." Signatories included:
- Mike Mullen (Chairman), Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State
- James Baker, Former Secretary of State and the Treasury
- Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary of Homeland Security
- Bob Gates, Former Secretary of Defense
- Stephen Hadley, Former National Security Advisor
- Chuck Hagel, Former Secretary of Defense
- Lee Hamilton, Former Representative from Indiana’s 9th District
- Michael Hayden, Former Director of the National Security Agency
- Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State
- Janet Napolitano, Former Secretary of Homeland Security
- Sam Nunn, Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services
- Paul O’Neill, Former Secretary of the Treasury
- Leon Panetta, Former Secretary of Defense
- Hank Paulson, Former Secretary of the Treasury
- Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Homeland Security
- Brent Scowcroft, Former National Security Advisor
- George Shultz, Former Secretary of State and the Treasury
- Paul Volcker, Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve
- John Warner, Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services
- Bob Zoellick, Former President of the World Bank Group
More from the Coalition for Fiscal and National Security:
- Read the Coalition’s 2012 statement, “Addressing Our Debt: A National Security Imperative”
- Watch the 2012 Coalition for Fiscal and National Security Launch Event
- View the Coalition’s full page ad which appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post in December 2012.
Further Reading
Chart Pack: Defense Spending
A selection of key charts on defense spending in the United States.
Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending
National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.
Budget Basics: National Defense
The national defense budget funds a wide range of activities and represents a significant share of overall federal spending.