Ronald Reagan, the president most remembered for his defense buildup, also did more than most to make defense spending more efficient.

One Reagan-era effort in that regard was the Nunn-McCurdy Amendment. It provides that, whenever a major defense acquisition program starts racking up big cost overruns, the Pentagon has to notify Congress. The aim is to help control cost growth by holding Pentagon officials and contractors publicly accountable. Today, to be slapped with a “Nunn-McCurdy breach” is a badge of shame. It may be the death knell of a program, as Congress may demand that the Pentagon curtail or kill off the program altogether.