Yes, and the US then takes it way way beyond that, just like everything military they do.

If you think the US "takes it way way beyond that", then you need to do some serious homework on China and Russia.

EDIT: Since people don't seem to believe me. Just look at this [1] NPR article from this morning, which quotes: "The Chinese, are our No. 1 intelligence threat."

[1] https://www.npr.org/2019/09/19/761962531/people-are-looking-...

No, whatever China and Russia do doesn't change the fact that the US goes way further than "a basic requirement for national defense."

You don't win wars by fulfilling only the "basic requirements". I would agree with you if there was more stability and harmony between nations but that is not the reality today.

Almost no other nations have as much to spend as much on it as we do.

Spend is irrelevant. Intent is key. By the way, China and Russia have shown their (immense) capacity in spying. Given their human rights track record and intent to slowly undercut the US and rest of the Democratic world, don't you think that the US needs adequate funding in counter-intelligence?

EDIT: Since people don't seem to believe me, just look at this [1] NPR article from this morning, which quotes: "The Chinese, are our No. 1 intelligence threat."

[1] https://www.npr.org/2019/09/19/761962531/people-are-looking-...