American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits

D onald Trump delights in projecting strength, meaning he loves America’s armed forces. During his first term, the president-elect signed legislation to spend more on defence, before proclaiming that he had “accomplished the military”. On the campaign trail, he doubled down, vowing further increases in defence spending and promising to tackle a recruitment shortfall. Yet he also wants to cut government waste, and has hired Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).