Yes, we spend a whole lot of money on "defense". Much of it not necessarily spent wisely. Lets see where we can save a lot of it.
1) Pull all troops, airplanes and ships out of the middle east including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, UAE, etc. Stop military and economic support of Israel and Egypt.
2) Remove all military personnel and equipment in England, Germany and the rest of Europe to the same levels which those countries have in the USA.
3) Take all personnel and equipment out of sub Saharan Africa.
4) Reduce all personnel and equipment in Asia - Afghanistan, Korea, Japan, Nationalist China and Diego Garcia to the same levels those countries have in the USA.
5) Ditto for the "Stans", Philippines and Okinawa.

Wait five years, or less, for the world to "cook"

I can see my taxes getting smaller already. Glad you brought it up.