The National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies just released a “critical new analysis of the militarized budget” in the United States, “The Warfare State: How Funding for Militarism Compromises our Welfare.”
The new report found that this past year, “out of a $1.8 trillion federal discretionary budget, the U.S. spent a staggering $1.1 trillion — or 62 percent — of that budget on militarism and war.”
The group notes: “Threats to cut spending for vital domestic programs have featured prominently in the debt ceiling debate in recent weeks, but spending on militarism has been almost entirely exempt from the discussion. Meanwhile, clawing back failed military, homeland security and law enforcement spending could instead fund programs and measures to address the true needs of American communities.”
Other findings: “Less than $2 out of every $5 in federal discretionary spending was available to fund investment in people and communities. …
“The U.S. spent $16 on the military and war for every $1 that was spent on diplomacy and humanitarian foreign aid. …
“The U.S. spent $51.1 billion for homeland security, approximately half of which goes to ICE ($8.8 billion) and CBP ($17.4 billion).”
“When we invest so heavily in militarism at home and abroad, we deprive our own communities and people of solutions to problems that pose immediate security threats,” said co-author Lindsay Koshgarian, Program Director of the National Priorities Project. “We underfund programs to end poverty, provide affordable housing, bolster public education, and protect clean air and water at our peril. Spending on militarism takes up the majority of the federal discretionary budget, and it has grown faster than all other spending. If we keep up these patterns, we are hurtling toward a future where we can’t afford the basics of a civilized society.”
“We keep hearing that our government can’t afford nice things — or necessary things — for everyone. And yet militarized spending in the U.S. has almost doubled over the past two decades, and the military budget is now approaching its highest point since World War II,” said co-author Ashik Siddique, Research Analyst at the National Priorities Project.
Alliyah Lusuegro, Outreach Coordinator of the National Priorities Project added: “Tens of billions of dollars are funneled into ICE and CBP every year in an effort to militarize the border, separate families, and detain and deport immigrants and people seeking asylum.”