Speaking during a visit to Germany for a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urged NATO countries to continue backing up and expanding their presence in Afghanistan. NATO troops have taken over security in northern and western Afghanistan, and by 2006 US officials believe they could take over in the less-settled southern part of the country. British Defense Minister John Reid agreed, saying NATO must have more than “paper forces.”
The Air Force budget would grow to $234 billion while Space Force spending would shrink to $26 billion under the White House's yearly ask.