The expensive parts, have specific taxes to pay for specific programs. War on the other hand, it's just kinda, let's spend a bunch of money and worry about it

The expensive parts, have specific taxes to pay for specific programs. War on the other hand, it's just kinda, let's spend a bunch of money and worry about it later. That makes a lot of sense when you're averting genocide or actively under attack. it makes less sense when you're already funding a powerful influential state department that can impose sanctions with strong international support. You can afford a whole lot of diplomacy for a few billion dollars, but that won't really buy you a lot of war. Also, not so many people die. Which i think is a bonus.