The Cold War was still raging during those budget battles.
After the defense cuts during the Carter Administration, President Reagan’s number one priority was re-building the military. Unfortunately, the Democrats realized that and maneuvered as many of their spending programs as they could into defense bills. He couldn’t veto the bills unless he wanted to allow the military to continue its decline.
Should he have been more fiscally disciplined? Perhaps. But the fact the Berlin Wall no longer exists is pretty solid testimony in his favor, IMO.
And Russia collapsed without a shot being fired.That was a really big freaking deal.