Federal Budget Analysis: Military & Security

Progress on Pentagon Cuts Must Continue

Sept. 23, 2021

Two votes on cuts to the Pentagon budget today showed more members of Congress are willing to take a stand against a bloated Pentagon budget that has fueled endless wars and obscene profits for military contractors. 


State of Insecurity: The Cost of Militarization Since 9/11

Sept. 1, 2021

Over 20 years, the U.S. has spent more than $21 trillion on militarization, surveillance, and repression — all in the name of security. These investments have shown us that the U.S. has the capacity and political will to invest in our biggest priorities. 


National Priorities Project Commends Senate Rejection of $50 Billion Pentagon Grab

Aug. 10, 2021

August 10 - Today the Senate rejected an amendment to the budget resolution to add $50 billion to the Pentagon budget, 46-53. The National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies issued the following statement.


President Biden's FY 2022 Budget Request

June 11, 2021

The president's request calls for $753 billion for the Pentagon and nuclear weapons, plus another $12 billion in foreign military aid.


A Forever-Increasing Pentagon Budget Undermines American Security

May 28, 2021

Today’s budget proposal rightly calls for major increases in domestic investment. But at the same time, its continued funding increases for the Pentagon undermine the prioritization of real security and human needs over corporate profit and greed. 


Pouring Money into the Pentagon Can’t Prevent Another Pandemic

April 9, 2021

At $753 billion, President Biden's requested Pentagon budget increase continues the dangerous and short-sighted path of ballooning military spending set by President Trump, and fails to recognize the reality that our most critical challenges don't have military solutions.


Peace Groups Urge Support for the PRO Act

March 30, 2021

Washington, DC. — On March 30, the National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies joined 20 other leading peace and justice organizations in delivering a letter to U.S. Senators in support of H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, in solidarity with workers demanding expanded labor rights.

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A Ten Percent Pentagon Cut Would Return Us to Obama-Biden Levels

Aug. 11, 2020

As part of the annual must-pass military spending and policy bill (the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or “NDAA”), progressive lawmakers have put forward a proposal to cut the massive $740 billion Pentagon budget by 10 percent. The amendment is being introduced on the Senate side by Senator Bernie Sanders, joined by Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and on the House side, by Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan.


Ten Better Uses for 10% of the Pentagon Budget

Aug. 11, 2020

A $74 billion cut is a strong step toward better spending priorities, and could make a tremendous difference in other programs ranging from health care and education to job creation at a time when it is desperately needed.


A Local Resolution to End the Transfer of Military Equipment to Police

June 25, 2020

Since 1990, the Department of Defense has transfered more than $7 billion worth of military equipment to more than 8,000 law enforcement agencies around the country through what is known as the 1033 Program. As part of the larger effort to defund the police, invest in communities and end structural racism, ending the 1033 program is an essential step to demilitarizing our communities and saving lives.