The institutional logic behind Treasury and Congress cuts

Which was the greater threat to its military: the prewar British Treasury or the prewar US Congress?

The suggested explanation is that defence restraint reflected institutional duties: economic strength for the Treasury and public spending and electoral accountability for Congress.

The proposed explanation for prewar defence restraint begins with each institution's understanding of its duties. For the British Treasury, protecting economic strength could mean resisting taxes and expenditure on weapons expected to become obsolete before a war. For Congress, the interpretation centres on avoiding waste and preserving funds for other programmes valued by constituents. It treats electoral accountability as part of how representatives understood their responsibility for national security. These are suggested institutional motives, rather than a judgment that either body intended to damage its armed forces.