The situation looks bleak. The military faces hundreds of billions of dollars in defense cuts while being involved in three military engagements. On the horizon is the new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction—a.k.a. the “Super Committee”—and the possibility of a $1 trillion “trigger” that would change the military as we know it.

This Thursday afternoon, the Defending Defense project will host an event on the future of defense spending in the face of this deficit-reduction “Super Committee.” Featured speakers include Senators Lindsey Graham (R–SC), Jon Kyl (R–AZ), and Kelly Ayotte (R–NH) and Representatives Randy Forbes (R–VA), Duncan Hunter (R–CA), and Allen West (R–FL).

The event will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building room B-339 located at 45 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20515.

To RSVP for the event, please click here.

This event comes during a crucial countdown in 2011. After enacting the so-called Budget Control Act, Congress formed a new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to make recommendations on getting spending and borrowing under control with a statutory goal of reducing the deficit by “at least” $1.5 trillion over fiscal years 2012 to 2021. Join key Senators and Representatives as they discuss the future of defense spending.

Defending Defense is a joint initiative of American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and the Foreign Policy Initiative to promote a sound understanding of the U.S. defense budget and the resource requirements necessary to sustain America’s preeminent military position in a dangerous world.