We used to pay for surges in defense spending
Tax increases used to follow defense and military spending increases; now it's the opposite.
The Korean War (1950 to 1953):
National Defense outlays (percentage of gross domestic product): ↑+8.9 percentage points
Taxes (percentage of GDP): ↑+4.0 percentage points
The Iraq War (2003 to 2011(?)):
National Defense Outlays: ↑+1.0 percentage points
Taxes: ↓+0.9 percentage points
On average, before 1980, a one percentage point increase in military and defense spending over 3 years would be accompanied by 0.42 percentage point increase in tax revenue (as a percentage of GDP).
On average, after 1980, a one percentage point increase in military and defense spending over 3 years would be accompanied by 1.49 percentage point reduction in tax revenue (as a percentage of GDP).
As the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act winds its way through Congress, it’s important to remember that we used to pay for stuff. Also, keep in mind that there are deeply systemic problems in the productivity of the defense sector, and throwing more money into the defense ecosystem might not produce more.