Fixing Our Debt is a National Security Issue

This post was written by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), co-chairs of the Blue Dog Task Force on National Defense.

Every year, our global economy becomes increasingly interconnected. At the same time we continue to face new international challenges that are ever more complex and potentially dangerous. From defeating ISIS and ending the civil war and humanitarian crisis in Syria, to addressing the nuclear threats posed by North Korea and Iran, as well as the geo-political challenges of a more internationally-active China, leadership from the United States has never been more important. We must deal with strains within our historic alliances, while also finding ways to address the consequences of global climate change, which exacerbates conditions in unstable parts of the world.

But our growing national debt threatens America’s leadership — our ability to adequately achieve our global objectives and protect our national interest. Unsustainable fiscal deficits restrict and weaken our hand when dealing with virtually every one of the serious global challenges we face.

The fact is, our nation’s fiscal health and our national security are inextricably intertwined, and we cannot wait to take action against this growing threat. We need to act now.

Admiral Mike Mullen, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, repeatedly warned about the threat of our national debt while he served as our nation’s top military advisor. In 2010 he went as far as saying, “the most significant threat to our national security is our debt,” and he continues to sound the alarm on this issue. We agree with him.Growing our economy and promoting sustainable fiscal policies will ensure America remains in a strong position to lead the world during the challenges of the 21st Century. Our ballooning debt and persistent deficit distracts from our ability to lead, pulls resources away from critical investments, and undercuts our perceived power abroad.

At this moment, our national debt is at its largest share of the economy (77 percent) since the aftermath of World War II. The path ahead looks treacherous if we do not change our priorities. On the current path, the debt will grow to 91 percent of GDP in just 10 years, and then to 150 percent of GDP by 2047.

Our global leadership depends on three critical aspects: robust investment in defense, a strong commitment to diplomacy, and an effective implementation of development projects around the world. But our growing debt means more and more of our resources will be diverted away from these critical national investments. Rather than supporting our military, diplomats, and development officers, our money will be spent servicing that debt.

At the same time, this debt means we will be in a worse position to invest in the next generation of Americans through education, skills training, and infrastructure. It is our children and grandchildren who will pay the consequences of our fiscal recklessness, and if we don‘t turn from our current path, we risk setting them up for failure.

National security experts, including former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger and former Defense Secretaries Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, have seen how this threatens our future and have joined Admiral Mullen in calling attention to this issue.

It’s important to note that this is a bipartisan group of dedicated public servants who have served at the highest levels of government and the military in both Democratic and Republican Administrations. Our path out of this crisis and toward a more sustainable fiscal solution must be bipartisan as well.

As members of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition, we’re ready and willing to transcend party lines to work together to bring down the debt. This week the Coalition has been highlighting the consequences of our growing debt and urging Congress to face the facts about our national debt through its #BringDownTheDebt social media campaign. The Coalition will continue to sound the alarm on our nation’s debt, and call for bipartisan solutions to put us on the path of fiscal sustainability.

We invite our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us to address this problem and ensure America’s leadership and security in the 21st Century.