Military spending?

Question

Does defense spending include the development of new weapons? I'm trying to write a novel, and this is the scenario:
A U.S. senator is a strong supporter of military spending, which would fund the development of a new nuclear weapon. A small group of people hopes to prevent the development of the weapon and tries to kill the senator.

Answer 1

I'm not sure how things work system-wide, but I do know this: The Army Research Lab (www.arl.army.mil) is funded almost exclusively by the Army. In light of the war and our extensive actions abroad recently, their operations budget has been somewhat reduced. However some of the money originally meant for long-term projects has been re-allocated to fund short term projects. Many of these projects have already gone from drawing board to battlefront in the course of the Iraq war.

So there you have it, in part at least: the Army itself does indeed fund its own research. (by the way, good luck with your novel!)

Answer 2

The Defense Appropriations Åct contains funds for research and development along with contractural authority to defense industry providers for new weapons research and development.

Answer 3

US President Eisenhower warned us about the US Military-Industrial Complex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

There is nothing wrong in opposing Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.
Benjamin Franklin
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr110199.html

Howard Zinn
http://www.geocities.com/howardzinnfans/

Answer 4

R&D would be included in the DOD budget. But wouldn't it make more sense to kill the inventor?

Answer 5

These two posters are correct.