Any restrictive administrative loop is always hopelessly behind on what degrees are "valuable". I think colleges should be required to provide information on salary and employment info for a graduates given degree from the university, but otherwise let the choice be open. All the proscription of "value" is useless cost increasing administrative theater

Most of US defense has absolutely nothing to do with NATO. Look at the current Iran fiasco for example.

What does the US spend towards NATO that it wouldn't spend if NATO didn't exist?

The US has as many aircraft carriers as the entire rest of the world combined, and thats not because NATO requested it. Nor does NATO demand the US produce 20 million dollar a piece missles.