Considering the outrage over government spending, perhaps U.S. military costs needs a closer look. Out of the hundreds of billions spent annually on national defense, billions could surely be saved by a secretary of defense dedicated to efficiency.

That’s just the role Secretary Robert Gates apparently intends to take on. Speaking last weekend at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, he said he will undertake a top-to-bottom review of the military in the hopes of turning up at least $10 billion in savings. It’s a challenging ambition because Gates is certain to be fiercely opposed by the military itself and the many corporations and communities that rely on the defense budget for regular income.

The defense secretary said the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had tapped a deep well of support for military spending, but that days of closer scrutiny inevitably lie ahead. “The gusher has been turned off, and will stay off for a good period of time,” he said.

Gates’ determination is based on his reading of Congress, which he expects will reflect public frustration with government spending. But he also predicted widespread resistance on Capitol Hill once specific cuts are announced.

He echoed the worries of President Dwight Eisenhower, who advised that excessive military spending could deplete the nation’s true source of strength ”“ a vibrant economy. “The U.S. should spend as much as necessary on defense,” Gates said, quoting Eisenhower, “but not one penny more.

The services are being pressed to invest in hardware they do not need, he said, while at the same time rising costs are limiting the production of essential ships and aircraft. As for personnel, he shares the same assessment of the military bureaucracy that was voiced by his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld: The officer corps is overdue for streamlining.

Over the last decade, the military’s health care costs have risen from $19 billion to $50 billion. The Defense Department must provide care to those injured or on active duty, Gates said, but what about working-age retirees who are eligible for coverage through employers?

In remarks last week, he also voiced frustration with the size and complexity of the Navy, observing that a high-tech destroyer can’t protect shipping from the pirates that swarm from the shores of the Indian Ocean. As we nod our heads in agreement with his efficiency study, it becomes clear that there may be many jobs in Maine vulnerable to a campaign to reduce military spending.

As much as we may admire a determination to cut military costs, it’s worth keeping in mind that the consequences of a drive for economy could be felt among those who build destroyers and weapons systems, and who overhaul nuclear submarines.