The difference is that defense is needed. A Dept of Education, or HHS is not.
That doesnt mean we shouldnt cut parts of the Defense budget. If you really want to lower govt spending, you will have to lower defense spending.
Or for that matter, the Department of Homeland Security.
The last time I checked, the job of defending the homeland fell to the Defense Department. So what’s up with having a second, bloated, unionized government agency trying to do the job that the military has held for the last 200+ years?!?