Ronald Reagan

====Government spending====
In 1981, in an effort to keep it solvent, Reagan approved a plan for cuts [[Social Security (United States)|to Social Security]]. He later backed off of these plans due to public backlash.{{sfn|Brands|2015|pp=300–303}} He then created the [[Greenspan Commission]] to keep Social Security financially secure and in 1983, he signed amendments to raise both the program's payroll taxes and retirement age for benefits.{{sfn|Patterson|2005|pp=163–164}} He had signed the [[Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981]] to cut funding for [[federal assistance]] such as food stamps, [[unemployment benefits]], [[subsidized housing]] and the [[Aid to Families with Dependent Children]],{{sfn|Pemberton|1998|p=141}} and would discontinue the [[Comprehensive Employment and Training Act]].{{sfn|Patterson|2005|p=157}} On the other side, defense spending doubled between 1981 and 1985.<ref name="Bowman 2004">{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.pentagon08jun08-story.html |title=Reagan guided huge buildup in arms race |last=Bowman |first=Tom |date=June 8, 2004 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |access-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101051322/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.pentagon08jun08-story.html |archive-date=January 1, 2023}}</ref> During Reagan's presidency, [[Project Socrates]] operated within the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] to discover why the United States was unable to maintain its economic competitiveness. According to program director Michael Sekora, their findings helped the country surpass the Soviets in terms of missile defense technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/30/trump-wrong-china-tech-former-reagan-star-wars-beat-soviets.html |title=Trump taking wrong approach to China, says Reagan official who helped 'Star Wars' beat the Soviets |last=Shinal |first=John |date=July 1, 2017 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |access-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117212646/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/30/trump-wrong-china-tech-former-reagan-star-wars-beat-soviets.html |archive-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref>{{sfn|Fialka|1999|p=8}}