The reliance on defense contractors, once touted as a way to reduce costs and improve quality of services for the military, has instead led to a glut of spending, the study concluded. ADThere is also a concern that the reliance on private military contractors has blunted the public’s understanding of the human cost of America’s unprecedented long-term deployments. Analysts say the reliance on private military contractors started during the Clinton administration, when U.S.-based companies played a prominent role in training and equipping the Croatian military. Contractors don’t earn taxpayer-funded education or health-care benefits that service members and veterans receive, he said, so some long-term costs are avoided. ADCancian, the CSIS analyst, said deployed military contractors are viewed as a significant and permanent part of the U.S. national security apparatus.

Source: Washington Post June 30, 2020 10:52 UTC